Post by Stallit 2 de Halfo on Apr 23, 2009 13:47:18 GMT
Armed gang attacks Corrib site
Gardaí are investigating an incident at Shell’s Corrib gas pipeline site in Co Mayo in which they say up to 15 people wearing balaclavas and carrying tools, bars and chains vandalised the area last night.
Some of the group managed to start a mechanical digger in the compound at Glengad, Belmullet and badly damaged the compound fence and gate, according to gardaí.
One of the security guards on the site sustained an injury to his wrist when he was hit by a protestor armed with an iron bar. Security guards ran for cover and effectively abandoned the site until back-up arrived in the early hours of this morning.
Gardaí believe the masked men attacked the site because of their opposition to the controversial project.
Earlier this week Shell EP Ireland decided to resume efforts to lay the offshore section of the controversial Corrib gas pipeline after its environmental management plan was approved by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan.
Gardaí have launched an investigation into last night's incident and the construction site is now a crime scene. A sledgehammer, iron bars and fence posts with nails were found at the scene. A truck was also vandalised.
“This is a serious escalation, we’ve never had people wearing balaclavas and so on breaking into the site in a group with implements,” said one Garda source.
Members of the group were carrying bolt cutters, iron bars and chains when they broke into the compound at Glengad, where the gas pipeline will come to shore.
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0423/breaking20.htm
Gardaí are investigating an incident at Shell’s Corrib gas pipeline site in Co Mayo in which they say up to 15 people wearing balaclavas and carrying tools, bars and chains vandalised the area last night.
Some of the group managed to start a mechanical digger in the compound at Glengad, Belmullet and badly damaged the compound fence and gate, according to gardaí.
One of the security guards on the site sustained an injury to his wrist when he was hit by a protestor armed with an iron bar. Security guards ran for cover and effectively abandoned the site until back-up arrived in the early hours of this morning.
Gardaí believe the masked men attacked the site because of their opposition to the controversial project.
Earlier this week Shell EP Ireland decided to resume efforts to lay the offshore section of the controversial Corrib gas pipeline after its environmental management plan was approved by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan.
Gardaí have launched an investigation into last night's incident and the construction site is now a crime scene. A sledgehammer, iron bars and fence posts with nails were found at the scene. A truck was also vandalised.
“This is a serious escalation, we’ve never had people wearing balaclavas and so on breaking into the site in a group with implements,” said one Garda source.
Members of the group were carrying bolt cutters, iron bars and chains when they broke into the compound at Glengad, where the gas pipeline will come to shore.
www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0423/breaking20.htm