Senator questions judge’s ruling

Senator questions judge’s ruling


Anton McNulty

THE jailing of Shell to Sea activist Maura Harrington for 28 days for an assault on a garda was brought up in the Seanad last week, when Independent Senator David Norris questioned the decision of Judge Mary Devins to refer Ms Harrington for psychiatric assessment.
Last Wednesday, Ms Harrington was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment after she was convicted of assaulting Garda Eamon Berry during a protest at Pollathomas on June 11 last. In her judgement, Judge Devins recommended that Ms Harrington receive psychiatric assessment because her ‘actions were so bizarre’, as well as fining her €1,000 and ordering her to pay €1,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund.
Following the jailing, Senator David Norris said he was greatly concerned at the jailing of Ms Harrington and the process that had led to it. He added he wondered if the decision of a judge to refer a Shell to Sea activist for psychiatric examination indicated a return to a time when attempts were made in eastern Europe to use psychiatry to control political expression.
“I think this is terribly, terribly, dangerous,” said Senator Norris, who also called for a debate on the Corrib gas controversy. “A minister of the day had given this field away for nothing to Shell, which was one of the worst polluters and one of the most avid multinationals. He would be very sorry if, the Garda having been enlisted on behalf of a multinational, the court system should then begin to play a role in this matter.”
Upon her arrival at Mountjoy jail on Wednesdat evening, Ms Harrington was greeted by a number of supporters, and protests took place outside the Department of Justice in Dublin over the weekend.
Although recognisance has been fixed in the event of an appeal, there was been no indication that Ms Harrington intends to appeal the sentence. Her husband, Naoise Ó Mongáin, told The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) that he did not know what her intentions were but added that she was dealing with the injustice of being a ‘political prisoner of Shell’.
Mr Terence Conway of Shell to Sea said he was not shocked at the sentence and described the donation of €1,000 to the Garda Benevolent Fund as an ‘insult’. He said he had clear video evidence of gardaí ignoring Mr McGrath and assaulting protesters on the day of the protest but this was not allowed to be shown to the court. He added that as the wife of a Government Minister, he felt Judge Devins should not preside on cases of this nature.