For immediate press release
3pm, Friday 12th Sept 2008
Shell to Sea.
Maura Harrington enters her fourth day on hunger strike.
At
the time of writing Maura Harrington, Shell to Sea, is into her fourth
day of a hunger strike which she began on Tue 9th August at
approximately 6pm when Shell's pipe-laying ship the Solitaire arrived
in Broadhaven Bay, Erris, Co Mayo.
Maura is clear that her hunger strike will end in one of two ways.
1) Written confirmation that the Solitaire has left Irish territorial waters.
2) Her death.
In
the midst of stiff Shell to Sea protests on Wednesday 11th, the damaged
Solitaire left Broadhaven Bay for Killybegs, Donegal where AllSeas (the
Solitaire owners) are 'assessing and deciding' where the ship is to be
repaired. "These decisions take time" said one Shell spokesperson.
At present the fate of Maura Harrington lies in the hands of
AllSeas, even though the situation is not of their making. However time
is not a luxury they can afford given Maura's deteriorating condition.
"Allseas
and Captain Van Der Plicht should not allow themselves to be cat's-paws for Shell playing ducks and
drakes with my life", Maura Harrington said today.
Speaking on the possible renegotiation of the great gas giveaway
terms that were fixed by Ray Burke and Bertie Ahern, Maura went on to
say, "There is no country on earth that have played hard-ball with
Shell, that Shell haven't backed down on".
Shell to Sea intend to stand firm against Shell and the Irish
Government until the Shell to Sea compromise is accepted; that the
refinery is relocated to sea on an offshore platform and the fiscal
terms that apply to the oil and gas companies are revised in order that
the failing economy and the people of Ireland may benefit from their
own natural resources.
Saturday's upcoming reclamation of another local resource – the local beach at Glengad.
Shell
to Sea say also that the recent environmental degradation by Shell of
the Special Area of Conservation at the beach at Glengad, which has
been ignored by all the institutions of the State is illegal and
unacceptable.
We intend to reclaim that beach which has been closed to the public
for nearly 2 months now. Shell to Sea will be re-opening that section
of beach by removing the fences which Shell have erected there, at 12
noon on Saturday 13th September.
Media welcome for tea and to meet at the Rossport Solidarity Camp, Glengad, 11am Saturday.
For verification or comment contact Shell to Sea spokespersons:
Maura Harrington +353 87 9591474
Terence Conway +353 86 0866264
Niall Harnett 00353 86 8444966 (Rossport Solidarity Camp)
Notes
1.
Local resident Terence Conway has written to the company Allseas, as a
matter of urgency, to remind them of Maura Harrington's ongoing hunger
strike and to appeal for the removal of the Solitaire from Irish waters
without further delay.
2. Attached pics.
a) Maura's original letter to the Master of the Solitaire, Captain Simon Van Der Plicht.
b) Maura Harrington, day four of Hunger Strike in her car at the Shell compound, Glengad.
