The Workers’ Party have strongly condemned the jailing today of two leading members of the Shell to Sea Campaign from the Erris Peninsula in County Mayo.

Cork Workers Party Councillor Ted Tynan said that the four month sentences against Maura Harrington and Niall Hartnett for their role in a peaceful campaign was an affront to the concept of justice and a vengeful act by the state at the behest of a multinational corporation.

Councillor Tynan, who has been a long time supporter of the Shell to Sea campaign, said that the lengths to which the government, the courts and the gardaí were prepared to go to protect the interests of Shell and its cohorts were incredible.

“The jailing of these two earnest and concerned people, who are trying to stand up for their families and their community against the might of one of the world’s most powerful corporations, must be condemned.  The Shell Corporation, which has already got blood on its hands in places such as Nigeria and is prepared to resort to the basest of tactics in the name of profit, has an able and willing ally in a government that can jail two decent people while at the same time using taxpayer’s money to bail out corrupt banks”.

“It is now time for individuals and organisations around Ireland to stand up and be counted and to demand the release of Niall Hartnett and Maura Harrington.  An injustice is being committed against them in the name of the Irish people and must be resisted by all those who believe in true justice.  I am calling on all those, even within Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, who believe that these jailings are unjust to come out and to say so loudly”, said Cllr. Tynan.

Issued 30th July 2009