The Mayo News

Seven Corrib gas protesters convicted after attacking garda car Seven Corrib gas protesters convicted after attacking garda car


Anton McNulty

A PROMINENT opponent of the Corrib gas project faces the prospect of having a six-month suspended prison sentence reactivated after he was found guilty of public order offences at a special sitting of Belmullet District Court on Wednesday.
Mr Pat O’Donnell (pictured),  a fisherman from Porturlin Shore, Ballina was convicted of three counts of obstruction of a peace officer and threatening and abusive behaviour during an incident where the court heard that an ‘unruly mob’ of up to 40 people surrounded an unmarked Garda car - resulting in the four uniformed gardaí locking themselves inside.
The incident took place on September 14, 2008 at Doologh, Geesala in north Mayo when a cavalcade of up to 86 cars were on a support rally for Maura Harrington, who was on hunger strike at the time. The cavalcade had started at Barnatra and went towards Belmullet, Blacksod, Geesala and finished at Glengad.
Six other men from the locality were charged with similar offences and were also convicted at the court sitting. Martin McDonnell of Bunalty, Glenamoy, Kevin Moran (50) of Milltown, Glenamoy, Tony King (64) of Aughoose, Pullathomas and Gary Bohan of Church Road, Belmullet were all convicted on three counts of obstruction of a peace officer and threatening and abusive behaviour, while John Dixon (43) of Muingeroon, Glenamoy and Thomas Cafferkey (63) of Graughill, Pullathomas were convicted of threatening and abusive behaviour.
Garda Aiden Gill explained that he along with three of his colleagues - Garda Seán McHale, Garda Terence Dever and Garda Michael Clarke - were detailed to video record the rally and take details of who was involved and the registration numbers. He explained that they joined the middle of the cavalcade at Geesala but it soon came to a halt and they were blocked in. He said a group of men led by Mr O’Donnell started roaring and shouting as they walked towards them and they had to lock the doors.
He said the incident reminded him of one in Northern Ireland in the 1980s where two service men were dragged from their car and attacked.
“It was a hostile environment with an unruly out of control mob and we felt like prisoners in our own car. They were abusive and shouting ‘get out you bastards’ and were banging on the car. It was a terrifying, frightening experience which lasted for about five minutes but it felt like an eternity,” he said.
He said they called for urgent assistance but the crowd got back in their vehicles and left before it arrived. Under cross-examination, Garda Gill said he did not record the incident on his camera because he felt it would further escalate the situation, and added the car was not damaged despite the protesters banging on it.
Garda Seán McHale - who was the driver - said they had followed the cavalcade from Barnatra and they had filmed the cars at Eachleim. He said when they rejoined them at Geesala, it soon came to a halt and he was blocked in by Mr Bohan’s car and Mr McDonnell’s car. He said when they got out he locked the door and that Pat O’Donnell started banging on the window saying, ‘F**k off, why don’t you investigate my lobster pots’.
Garda McHale said he thought Pat O’Donnell had ‘lost it’ and he, witness, was frightened about what was going to happen. He said he was relieved when the crowd moved away and followed them to Glengad. Under cross-examination, Garda McHale said that he did not order the crowd to leave the area and did not do anything to try and get them to leave.
Inspector Martin Byrne told the court he spoke to the gardaí after the incident and said they were all severely tramautised, pale and agitated and they felt they were going to be attacked.
All the defendants denied the charges with six witnesses saying they did not see anyone abusing gardaí or attacking the Garda car. Mr O’Donnell said he got out of his vehicle because he thought there was an accident but denied going within three feet of the car or insulting the gardaí. He said it was in Eachleim where he told Garda McHale to investigate his lobster pots, and denied that it was a pre-planned attack.
Judge David Anderson convicted all the defendants of the charges against them and said that ‘anyone who ever saw the video of what happened in Belfast can’t but be struck by the evidence of the Gardaí and their suffering was condoned by the blind amnesia of a lot of people in this part of the world’. He also claimed the behaviour was on par to road rage and threatened to take their licences off them.
Mr O’Donnell had received a six-month suspended prison sentence from Castlebar Circuit Court and Judge Anderson remanded him on his own bail to the next sitting of the Circuit Court on October 13 for the matter to be dealt with. He adjourned sentencing in this case until November 11 for the preparation of a probation report. 
Mr Martin McDonnell also had a one-month suspended jail sentence for tresspass and he was remanded on bail for that to be dealt with and also adjourned sentencing for the preparation of a probation report. A probation report was also ordered in the case of Mr Bohan while Mr King and Mr Moran were fined €750 each and Mr Dixon and Mr Cafferkey were fined €500 each.
Meanwhile on Monday last, 16 protesters appeared before Judge Anderson in Belmullet District Court facing various public order charges. Of those charged seven of the accused had their cases dismissed, one case was withdrawn, one case was struck out, two were found technically guilty but no sanction was imposed, six people had their cases adjourned until November, while only one man was found guilty and fined.

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