A long-time Fianna Fáil councillor, Tim Quinn, has called on Shell to make a gesture and clean the Corrib gas at an onshore site – possibly Glinsk – before piping it past houses to the inshore refinery at Bellanaboy.
Councillor calls for Corrib compromise Shell should make ‘gesture’ - Quinn 
Áine Ryan A LONGTIME Fianna Fáil councillor, Tim Quinn, has called on Shell to make a gesture and clean the Corrib gas at an onshore site – possibly Glinsk – before piping it past houses to the inshore refinery at Bellanaboy.
Responding to questions by The Mayo News yesterday, the Belmullet councillor said he cannot see any solution to the controversy at present.
During the last week, the bitter controversy reached unprecedented sinister levels when peaceful protestor, Mr Willie Corduff was allegedly attacked, leading to his overnight hospitalisation and Shell equipment was significantly damaged at the landfall site at Glengad.
“No amount of dialogue is going to resolve this. Maybe Shell could be magnanimous and consider moving part of the refinery operation. If they could clean it at Glinsk, an onshore site, and then maybe bring it to the refinery in Bellanaboy,” said Cllr Quinn.
“The key to the whole controversy is the location of the refinery,” added Cllr Quinn.
Last year three local priests, on behalf of the community of Kilcommon, proposed the remote location of Glinsk as an alternative and acceptable site for the refinery.
In the last week claims and counter claims about violent incidents at the Glengad once again put the controversy on the international map.
Apparently, hostilities reached a climax when shortly before midnight last Wednesday night a large number of men entered the site. According to gardaí they wore balaclavas and were armed with iron bars and chains. They then entered the compound, ‘threatened and intimidated security guards’ and inflicted damage, with the use of a digger.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, Inspector Joe Doherty appealed for any witnesses to come forward.
“The investigation is progressing well and we are interviewing people in the area. We appeal to any witnesses and the general public to come forward if they have any information,” said Supt Doherty.
When asked if Mr Corduff had made a formal complaint, Insp Doherty said he ‘didn’t wish to comment’ on individual cases.
“If people wish to make a complaint, they can come forward to Belmullet Garda Station and their complaint will be investigated,” continued Insp Doherty.
Last week Belmullet’s Supt Michael Larkin also appealed to local people to ‘take a step back’ and use the Government’s north-west forum, chaired by Mr Joe Brosnan to for any complaints.
Meanwhile, Rossport Five’s Willie Corduff told The Mayo News yesterday that he ‘was lucky to be alive’ and he will make a complaint once he has recovered from his ‘traumatising’ ordeal.
Willie Corduff talks emotionally
IN an emotional interview, Mr Corduff recalled how, after spending almost 19 hours lodged under a Shell lorry, he was allegedly assaulted by men in balaclavas, after he got out from under the lorry, in the middle of the night, to stretch his legs.
“I think they were professionals. They seemed to be big men. They put me down on the ground and all I can remember is four of them kneeling on me. They didn’t use their hands, they used their knees. They squeezed me like a sandwich and they had my airwaves closed off; and my hands were at the back of my head,” said Mr Corduff form his home in Rossport yesterday.
“I couldn’t catch my breath and eventually when my tongue came out the side of my mouth, one of them said: ‘Leave him alone. He’s nearly gone’,” he continued.
“They had some type of a paramedic then, who offered to help me,” he added.
Willie Corduff was kept overnight in MGH and says he has photographic evidence of the bruises covering his body.
Reaction
COMMUNITY and protest groups Pobal Chill Chomáin, Pobal le Chéile, Rossport Solidarity Camp and Shell To Sea (Mayo), issued a joint statement yesterday condemning the responses of gardaí and calling on Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern to establish an international inquiry into last week’s incidents.
It states: “It is with great regret that we have witnessed a wholly inadequate response from An Garda Síochana in relation to the savage and unprovoked attacks on several local people including local farmer and Rossport Five member Willie Corduff last Thursday morning, which occurred at Shell, Statoil & Marathon’s proposed Corrib gas pipeline site in Glengad, County Mayo.”
It also criticises gardaí for not ‘taking immediate action on an incident that could have led to Willie’s death’ while, subsequently treating the public ‘to a circus of contradictory and inconsistent statements’.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, Mr John Monaghan, of Pobal Chill Chomáin condemned ‘any vandalism’.
“We do not support any covert intimidation or destruction of anyone’s property,” he said.
It has also emerged that An Taisce has complained to Mayo County Council about aspects of the permissons for works at Glengad.
Yesterday the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development) hosted talks in Dublin with a number of interested parties in an attempt to resolve issues.
While Shell declined to comment on last week’s debacle, it has welcomed these talks.
“We are wholeheartedly engaged with the OECD process. We remain committed to seeking sustainable solutions to any genuine concerns expressed in relation to the Corrib project,” a Shell spokesman said.
