éirígí Tir Chonaill

Éileamh ar Thacaíocht do Phríosúnaigh

16/07/2010

(English version follows)

Dé Sathairn beag seo (17ú Iúil) scaoilfear saor feachtasóir Shell chun Sáile Pat O’Donnell i ndiaidh dó cúig mhí a chaitheamh i ngéibheann as cúiseanna a bhain le himeacht ag agóid in éadan ghníomhaíochtaí an ollchomhlachta breosla Shell i gCeann Iorrais, Condae Mhaigh Eo.

Ag caint faoin ocáid, dúirt urlabhraí éirígí Thír Chonaill Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig go raibh sé tábhachtach don phobal tacaíocht a thabhairt do mhuintir Cheann Iorrais agus fáiltiú roimh scaoileadh saor an Uasail O’Donnell.

“Is maith an rud é go bhfuil Pat O’Donnell á scaoileadh saor an deireadh seachtaine seo ó phríosún ach níor chóir dó bheith ann sa chéad áit,” arsa an tUasal Mac Giolla Easbuig. “Cuireadh i bpríosún é díreach mar gheall ar a sheasamh ar son a phobail agus lig rialtas Bhaile Átha Cliath do chorás cirt na Sé Chondae Fichead a bheith in úsáid mar uirlis de chuid Shell Oil le pobal Iorrais a chur faoi chois ina n-iarrachtaí chun acmhainní nádúrtha ar nós ola agus gáis a ghoid ó mhuintir na hÉireann.

“Tá sé soiléir go bhfuil Shell ag díriú ar dhaoine a chuireann ina n-éadan agus gur úsáid siad Pat mar shampla dóibh siúd atá ag déanamh agóide faoi olcanna a leithéid de chomhlacht ilnáisiúnta. Léiríonn príosúnú daoine cosúil le Niall Harnett agus an príomhoide scoile scoirthe Maura Harrington, agus úsáid na meán chun bréaga salacha agus mailíseacha a scaipeadh fúthú, go rachaidh siad ar maos chun a sprioc a bhaint amach,” arsa é.

“Ba chóir go mbeidh muintir Dhún na nGall meabhrach go bhfuil gach seans ann go ligfidh an rialtas i dTeach Laighean dár gcúirteanna a bheith in úsáid in éadan an phobail ar mhaithe leis an saint chaipitleach nuair a thosaíonn taiscéaladh agus mianadóireacht d’acmhainní nádúrtha sa chondae seo. Bíodh druileáil do bhreosla agus mhiotail luachmhara ann nó piolóin ollmhóra a chur trasna na tuaithe, úsáidfidh gnólachtaí móra na cúirteanna chun duine ar bith a labhraíonn amach in n-éadan a phionósú agus ba chóir do gach duine réasúnta labhairt amach in éadan mí-úsáid ár gcorás cirt agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do leithéidí Pat O’Donnell.”

Chríochnaigh sé, “Is é bun an scéil gur chóir do rialtas Bhaile Átha Cliath tacaíocht a thabhairt don phobal, seachas do leas an scothaicme saibhir agus don aicme ghnó chaipitleach. Tá breis agus 20,000 duine dífhostaithe i nDún na nGall agus tá giorruithe i seirbhísí ar an bhealach, ba chóir go mbeadh acmhainní nádúrtha na tíre seo faoi smacht an stáit, eastósctha ag úsáid dea-chleachtas idirnáisiúnta i ndiaidh comhairliúcháin cheart le pobail áitiúla, agus go n-úsáidfear an saibhreas iarmhartach chun ár n-otharlanna agus scoileanna a mhaoiniú, ár n-infrastruchtúr a fheabhsú agus chun fostaíocht inbhuanaithe a chruthú anseo i nDún na Gall. Is mithid don phobal an rud ar linne é a athshealbhú.”

Call for Support of Protesters

This Saturday (17^th July) will see the release from prison of Shell to Sea campaigner Pat O'Donnell after serving five months in jail for charges relating to an incident at a protest against fuel giant Shell's activity in Erris Head, Co.Mayo.

Speaking of the up-coming event and release of Mr. O'Donnell, éirígí Tir Chonaill spokesperson Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig said it was important for the public to support the people of Erris Head and welcomed Mr.O'Donnell's release.

“It's good that Pat O'Donnell is being released this weekend from prison but he should never have been there in first place”, Mr Mac Giolla Easbuig said. “He was jailed solely for standing up for his community and the Dublin government have allowed the Twenty-Six County justice system to be used as vehicle by Shell Oil to run rough-shod over the Erris community in their efforts to steal natural resources such as oil and gas from the Irish people.”

“Its quite evident that Shell have anyone who dares oppose them in their sights and that they have used Pat as an example to those who would wish to protest against the wrongs of such a multi-national company. The jailing also of people such as Nial Harnett and retired school principle Maura Harrington and the use of the media to spread scurrilous and malicious lies about them shows they'll sink to any depth , regardless of who the hurt, to get what they want” he said.

“The people of Donegal should be aware that there is every chance that the government in Lenister House will also allow our courts to be used against the public in the interests of capitalist greed when exploration and mining for natural resources begin in this county. Whether it be drilling for fuels and precious metals or running giant pylons across the countryside, big business will use the courts to punish anyone who speaks out against them and every right thinking person, regardless of position, should speak out against the abuse of our justice system and support people such as Pat O'Donnell.”

He concluded by saying, “The bottom line is that the Dublin government, instead of backing the interests of the wealthy elite and the capitalist business class, should be standing firmly behind the people. With unemployment in Donegal at well over 22,000+ and cutbacks in services on the cards, the natural resources of this country should be controlled by the state, extracted using best international practise after proper consultation with local communities and the resulting wealth created used to fund our hospitals and schools, improve our infrastructure and create sustainable employment here in Donegal. Its time the people reclaim what is ours.”