The Celtic League General Secretary has sent a letter of support to jailed Shell to Sea protester Pat O’Donnell.
Mr O’Donnell is currently imprisoned at Castlerea Prison, Co Roscommon and is the latest of a growing number of members of the North Mayo community who have been imprisoned as opposition to the controversial gas pipeline and terminal in the area continues.
Individual members of the Celtic League and National Branch Secretary’s are also being urged to send letters of support. They can be mailed to:
Pat O’Donnell,
Castlerea Prison,
Harristown, Castlerea,
Co.Roscommon.
Messages can also be sent via the Shell to Sea website which has a wide range of articles and information on the ongoing struggle:
“Dear Pat O’Donnell
I am writing to you as the General Secretary of the Celtic League to offer you our support at this difficult time.
We have been following the Shell to Sea protests from the beginning and have publicised the campaign as much as we possibly can. We have also been involved in our own letter writing campaign in an attempt to stop Shell Plc. from running a mock with their Corrib Gas Project. Unfortunately Shell seems to have the full backing of the Irish Government in what they are doing and both seem to pay little attention to the concerns of the local community. In our opinion the real and potential environmental and social damage that the planned Corrib Gas Project is and will have if allowed to continue is staggering beyond belief.
It is shocking how the Irish Government has stood firmly on the side of big business in this whole affair and has ignored the will of an entire community. Community champions like you have shown the wider world that the only way to stop aggressive multinational speculators like Shell Plc. from destroying the environment, is to stand firmly (and peacefully) against them and their supporters.
The stand that people like yourself and Ken Saro Wiwa have made against Shell Plc. in the face of Government and police opposition to your protests, is admirable to say the least. In my opinion a multinational corporation that is repeatedly accused world wide of environmental pollution and human rights abuses (and especially as court cases are still ongoing), should not be actively supported by any government.
I would like to thank you once again for your personal commitment to this cause and I stand firmly behind the words of John Higgins MEP, who referred to you recently as a local fisherman who has had to contend with the “whole force of the State”, because you stand for “community benefit over private greed.”
Good luck in your future plans.
Yours sincerely
Rhisiart Tal-e-bot
General Secretary
Celtic League”
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