Harrington home after weekend in jail

Harrington home after weekend


Áine Ryan

VETERAN anti-Corrib gas campaigner Maura Harrington (pictured) was released yesterday afternoon from Mountjoy jail, where she had spent the weekend for non-payment of fines, relating to the protest.
The retired national school teacher’s latest stint behind bars is her fifth incarceration during the past 18 months.
Ms Harrington was arrested after she left a funeral in her home village of Dohooma on Friday last.
Meanwhile, fisherman Pat O’Donnell today (Tuesday) is set to spend his 140th day in Castlerea prison. Mr O’Donnell, known locally as The Chief, was jailed for seven months last February, by Judge Raymond Groarke. The sentence related to convictions for threatening behaviour towards a garda, and willful obstruction of a peace officer.
His wife, Mary, confirmed to The Mayo News last night that she expects Pat to be released around mid-July. Mary also confirmed that her husband was released for a number of hours on May 16 last to allow him attend their daughter, Aisling’s First Holy Communion.
Two months ago the Erris Inshore Fishermen’s Association (EIFA) wrote to the Governor of Castlerea prison, Martin Reilly to request O’Donnell’s early release.
The letter stated: “Patrick O’Donnell is a founder member of our organisation and is still a member in good standing. He has worked with us constructively since our inauguration in the year 2000. We are very sorry that he is incarcerated during the now operational fishing season, which is very short and very much weather dependent.”
Anti-Corrib activist Niall Harnett is also serving a sentence in Castlerea Prison.