Shell to Sea protester given seven month sentence

Shell to Sea protester given seven month sentence

Anton McNulty

A leading Shell to Sea campaigner was sentenced to seven months imprisonment at today’s (Wednesday) sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court.
Judge Raymond Groarke branded Pat O’Donnell of Porturlin Shore, Ballina a ‘thug’ and a ‘bully’ who had no respect for Gardaí before he sentenced him to seven months imprisonment for incidents involving members of An Garda Siochana.
Mr O’Donnell, known locally as ‘The Chief’, received a three month sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour towards Sergeant Cathal O’Malley at Glengad on September 13, 2008 and four months for wilful obstruction of a peace officer on September 14, 2008 at Doologh, Geesala. Both sentences are to run consecutively.
Mr O’Donnell had been found guilty of the offences at Belmullet District Court but had appealed the conviction of the charge of threatening and abusive behaviour and the severity of the wilful obstruction conviction. He had previously received a six month suspended prison sentence in Castlebar Circuit Court in February, 2009 for obstruction of a garda.
In imposing the conviction, Judge Groarke told Mr O’Donnell that he was a bully and a thug who thought he could do what he wanted and get away with it. Mr Liam Mulrooney, counsel for Mr O’Donnell asked the judge to suspend the sentence with strict conditions but he refused.
The Court heard a number of appeals involving Shell to Sea protesters with Niall Harnett Barnacullen, Pollathomas and Maura Harrington, both failing in their appeal to overturn their convictions.
Mr Harnett was found guilty of assaulting Garda Hugh Egan at Glengad on September 13, 2008 and was sentenced to 240 hours community service in lieu of six months imprisonment. Ms Harrington was found guilty of failing to comply with the direction of a garda on August 30, 2008 and will be sentenced tomorrow.