Retired school principal jailed

A RETIRED school principal, and leading opponent of the Corrib Gas project, was jailed for three months today. 
Ms Maura Harrington of Tullaghanbawn, Geesala, was before Belmullet District Court for sentencing in relation to the assault of a security guard and entering a Shell compound at Glengad with the intention of committing an offence on June 16, 2008.
Having convicted Ms Harrington of the offences, Judge Mary Devins proposed that she would adjourn sentencing subject to certain conditions, one of which stipulated that Harrington “could not interfere with Shell or its agents”. 
After a short adjournment, counsel for the accused, Mr Alan Gannon told the court that, while his client was willing to adhere to  conditions stipulating that she would be of good behaviour and not breach the peace, Ms Harrington could not adhere to a condition that specifically cited Shell.
He said that Ms Harrington believed she was acting as a conscientious citizen, under the guidance of the constitution, on the day in question.
“My client has no difficulty being of good behaviour but she has no confidence in Shell and she will not give any undertaking in respect of them. She doesn’t want a corporation like Shell to have any power over her,” said Mr Gannon.
Judge Devins fined Ms Harrington €1,000 and imposed two three-month jail sentences to be served concurrently. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal and Ms Harrington was conveyed to the Dóchas women’s jail at Mountjoy prison.