The Mayo News

Maura Harrington, a leading opponent of the Corrib Gas project, was jailed for three months last week.  Maura Harrington jailed and banned from driving


A RETIRED school principal, and leading opponent of the Corrib Gas project, was jailed for three months last week. 
Ms Maura Harrington of Tullaghanbawn, Geesala, was before Belmullet District Court for sentencing in relation to the assault of a security guard and entering a Shell compound at Glengad with the intention of committing an offence on June 16, 2008.
Having convicted Ms Harrington of the offences, Judge Mary Devins proposed that she would adjourn sentencing subject to certain conditions, one of which stipulated that Harrington ‘could not interfere with Shell or its agents’. 
After a short adjournment, counsel for the accused, Mr Alan Gannon told the court that, while his client was willing to adhere to  conditions stipulating that she would be of good behaviour and not breach the peace, Ms Harrington could not adhere to a condition that specifically cited Shell.
He said that Ms Harrington believed she was acting as a conscientious citizen, under the guidance of the Constitution, on the day in question.
“My client has no difficulty being of good behaviour but she has no confidence in Shell and she will not give any undertaking in respect of them. She doesn’t want a corporation like Shell to have any power over her,” said Mr Gannon.
Judge Devins fined Ms Harrington €1,000 and imposed two three-month jail sentences to be served concurrently. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal and Ms Harrington was conveyed to the Dóchas women’s jail at Mountjoy prison, where she spent the night before she secured her release on appeal at Achill District Court on Thursday.
On Tuesday of last week, Maura Harrington was disqualified from driving for two years at Ballina District Court.
The dangerous driving case, which was heard in May of this year, related to two dangerous driving charges following an incident in which Harrington pursued a white transit van carrying IRMS security workers employed on Shell’s Glengad site through the townlands of Annaghmore and Ballinglen, Ballycastle on July 3 2008.
In May of this year Garda Adrian Kearns told the court that on July 3, 2008 he responded to a report of dangerous driving in the Ballycastle area. In Ballycastle he spoke to the driver of a van who said that he was concerned about the erratic driving of the person driving a Silver Bora. He drove off and as he did Garda Kearns signalled to the occupants of the Silver Bora to pull in. However, the car drove off and Garda Kearns followed them and activated his siren and flashing lights. The car, which was being driven by the defendant, continued after the van and at stages, over a five kilometre stretch, drove on the wrong side of the road which had an unbroken white line in parts. On two occasions the car had to swerve back in on its own side to avoid collision with an oncoming car. Garda Kearns said the siren and the flashing lights were continually activated.
Garda Kearns said that the van eventually pulled into a lay-by and the car being driven by the defendant stopped some distance away. Garda Kearns said he spoke to the driver of the car and she gave her name as Maura Harrington, Dohooma, Ballina. She refused to leave the car as she said it would have been unsafe and she showed Garda Kearns her driving licence. The defendant told Garda Kearns that she followed the van because she thought it looked suspicious.
Judge Mary Devins said that there was sufficient evidence to convict. Ms Harrington took the stand in mitigation and said that she felt she had acted under section 93 of Bunreacht na hEireann. Ms Harrington told the court that she is the only driver in her home as her husband has not driven since being injured in an incident at a Garda Station in July 2008.
Judge Mary Devins told Ms Harrington that [even if you have strong beliefs[ you cannot break the law and put other people’s lives in danger. Ms Harrington was convicted and fined €500 and disqualified from driving for two years. The second dangerous driving charge was taken into consideration. Recognisances were fixed.

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