Maura Harrington jailed for 28 days

Shell to sea campaigner jailed for 28 days


A SENIOR Shell to Sea campaigner who was jailed for 28 days for an assault on a garda was recommended to undergo psychiatric assessment at last week’s sitting of Belmullet District Court.
Judge Mary Devins sentenced Ms Maura Harrington of Tullaghanbawn, Geesala, Co Mayo to 28 days’ imprisonment for the assault on Garda Eamon Berry, which she described as a ‘despicable show of utter contempt’. When Ms Harrington was led away from the court, her supporters in the body of the court gave her a round of applause.
Ms Harrington, a retired primary school principal, had denied the assault, which took place during a protest when Shell personel attempted to erect a portacabin at Pollathomas pier in north Mayo on June 11, 2007. Ms Harrington had claimed that the land leading to the pier was private property and Shell personnel did not have permission from the landowner to enter the land. During the protest, gardaí broke the lock on the gate leading to the pier and escorted the digger and portacabin to the pier.
At a previous sitting, Ms Harrington declined to take the stand in her defence after Judge Devins refused to allow video evidence captured by the protesters on the day because she felt it was not admissible and was not a certified original copy. Garda Berry, who is now retired, said he felt humiliated when Ms Harrington slapped him across the face, while he was policing the protest.
“I felt it was totally unnecessary and I feel it was designed to humiliate me. It showed the contempt towards me as a garda for her to walk up and slap me,” he said
At last week’s sitting, Judge Devins said she was satisfied beyond all doubt that the prosecution had proved its case and convicted Ms Harrington. In sentencing her, Judge Devins expressed her horror at the assault of one public servant by another in a manner which was designed to humiliate Garda Berry.
She told Ms Harrington that she considered being a servant of the State to be an honour and she was not worthy of the social status her job afforded her in the community. Judge Devins added that she was less inclined to believe in her passion for her cause having ‘witnessed the enjoyment she seems to get in being in the public limelight’.
Ms Harrington was sentenced to 28 days for the assault on Garda Berry and was directed to undergo psychiatric assessment to address her ‘bizarre’ actions. Judge Devins also fined her €1,000 and ordered her to pay €1,000 to the Garda benevolent fund. Recognisance was set in the event of an appeal.
In a separate case, both Ms Harrington and her brother Seán Harrington of Toorglass, Belmullet were convicted of public order charges relating to an incident which occurred on April 21, 2007 – when President Mary McAleese visited Belmullet to open the arts centre at the new Civic Centre. Both had been accused of a breach of the peace, with Ms Harrington was accused of lunging at President McAleese.
Judge Devins fined Mr Harrington €250 and fined Ms Harrington €500 and bound her to the peace for 12 months. After refusing to sign the bond, Ms Harrington was found in contempt of court and sentenced to two days’ imprisonment to run concurrent with the 28-day sentence.