Judge Devins Jails Seven Shell to Sea Protestors

by James Kelly Mon Jul 06, 2009 18:58

Margaret they will wake up when they are told the truth and in my humble opinion one of the most effective ways of doing that is to advertise the webistes, via stickers, flyers, etc on the streets, in the communities, outside the hospitals and schools and so on.

The hook message is the multi billion gas giveaway.

In the midst of what is going on in the country and in view of all the rest that is coming down the tracks, the proliferation of those advertisements can do a good job in spreading the word which the state and corporate media have buried or distorted, as we all know very well.

Solidarity. J K

by Margaret Sat Jul 04, 2009 15:47

Banned from fishing ,Shell controls our seas,Shell will pollute our drinking water ,and does anyone know was it 300 or 400 hundred acres that Bourke donated to the oil barons [Coilte lands that belong to the people) when oh when will the Irish people wake up?

by old codger - pensioner Sat Jul 04, 2009 14:00

Just another little snippet on what Shell can do for your community. Oil spill: Reps order Shell to pay N1bn compensation to Rivers ...1 Jul 2009 by alexsamade
The report “urged Shell to negotiate with the Joinkrama Community with a view to determining compensation for damages to waterways, farmland, economic trees; since the spill in question did not originate from Joinkrama Community.” ...
Vanguard News - http://www.vanguardngr.com/ - References
[ More results from Vanguard News ]

by Eamonn O'Coilea'im - Republic of Ireland Fri Jul 03, 2009 14:57

Lets talk . lets move forward, let 156 shell security move into your area, 300 Irish Garda, The Navy and who knows who else. Shell are declaring a no go zone and then when something happens to the pipeline it;s a no go zone for everyone but the men in hazzard suits to sift through the burnt out remains of our homes. Shell are putting the people at a very high risk of being annihilated and our own Government are forcing this project for the good of WHO , not the people who live there. Write to newspapers around the world and tell the story ; and when it comes to the end of our safety to live here , where will the population go to or risk what the inspectors stated in their report. INCINERATION.
This would not happen anywhere else in Ireland, Somebody some where better do something quick to stop this from destroying the North West cornor of the Republic of Ireland
Please come to GLENGADE and then ROSSPORT to fight this ongoing nightmare.

by Billy idle Fri Jul 03, 2009 09:45

SHELL(and the state for that matter) don't give a toss about endangered species or humans. Their activities in the Russian Far east seriously threaten the survival of the tiny remaining global Western Grey Whale population. Broadhaven Bay in a SAC precisely because its a haven for Dolphins and small whales though it appears to count for little when it conflicts with this bunch of corporate criminals and their state fellow travellers

by shea Fri Jul 03, 2009 02:25

i support the direct actions but think the poster above has a point. actions need to be seen in there totality. this campaign has gone on for years, i think people are acting out of frustration at the moment and understandable. but if each direct action was accompanied with an explanation. theres a great S2S video on youtube were people set a fire out side shell head quarters in dublin. the video was accompanied by pictures and discriptions of the consequences of flares from the pipe in nigeria. the action was explained. a cupple of yobs setting a fire turns into an artistic protest. media is a dirty word, with good reason but we live in an age with the internet mobile phones etc when the media can be more democratic than ever before if its used right.

if your doing something. give a pre written press release to a 3rd party explain your actions to be sent to the press on the event of your arrest.

get someone who's job is soley to take pictures.

write up a pice, don't over exagerate it. you don't need to. we have reason on our side.

it's boreing and dull but a bit of prep work makes the difference. but 7 people went to jail 5 years to the day in similar cirumstances and hardly a word. we need to ask honestly why and what we can learn from it.

we need to be winning people like the obove poster over. not giving out because he/she is not on tune.

if they don't support direct actions then theres still pleanty of work to be done, they need to be comfortable enough to take it up.
critiseing yourself or your own is not disloyal if genuine and we come ut better at the end of it.

by FSB! - pers cap Fri Jul 03, 2009 00:46

And let's not forget those in uniform (and otherwise) trampling on rights. The O'Donnells of Porturlin can tell you all about having endured many instances of it.

by FSB! - pers cap Fri Jul 03, 2009 00:26

Which few would this be? The ones in uniform breaking laws (and bones, ask Trash) for Shell is what I think. And my opinion is not without foundation, for sure.

by chrissie - ss Thu Jul 02, 2009 23:06

rte news said that the builders are going to strike at the refrinery on monday .may be we could msuter some suppotr threw .looks like the big companys are now turning on thre own people

by La Rochelle Thu Jul 02, 2009 21:30

We have been told Alma will refute quite a few points from this paper.
In the mean time, people in La Rochelle know now, and know abour Rossport and Shelle to sea project...And, after all, publicity is the biggest tool in this sort of game...
Good luck for to morrow
And
for all the actions to come

by Starstruck Thu Jul 02, 2009 20:56

In response to your points -
The judiciary is supposed to be an independent objective decision maker
Off hand,flippant remarks by a judge denying legal representation to those entitled to it but who cannot afford it are a serious issue.

"She was entitled to take into account the likelihood of reoffending in making a decision to grant bail. She is doing her job"
No.
She can only take in the likelihood of reoffending since the Bail Act 11997 and this act provides that this particular possibility can only be used when considering bail on suspected "serious offences" ,,and the likelihood of committing a further "serious offence"
"Serious offence" means an offence specified in the Schedule for which a person of full capacity and not previously convicted may be punished by a term of imprisonment for a term of 5 years or by a more severe penalty.
The charges levelled against these defendants fall under sections 8,9 of the Public Order Act 1994 and are NOT serious offences and thus the criterion you cited cannot be used while considering bail.
Thus she is NOT doing her job.

Devins has had her decision rightly overruled and will no doubt unfortunately continue having such actions taken due to her vitriolic and politically motivated abuses of the justice system.

by old codger - pensioner Thu Jul 02, 2009 17:03

Are there not any legal advisers that can confirm the right to travel in the EU? When laws can be made up by any despot and there is no way to counter this rubish, how can we have faith in anything about the EU.
Ireland is operating as a total dictatorship With the legal and banking system using private security companies like G4 who are now considering a bid to run our prisons as well. The Americanisation of our country from training the elite Ranger military at the Colledge of The Americas where most of the despots and dictators in South America were trained to torture and abuse human rights,
The privatisation of our health service and the the recruitment of fascist mercenaries to commit crimes against Irish citizens.
The friends of Fianna Fail, Bankers , developers, and many hidden civil servants and millionaires have worked the system to bring about major corruption in the whole system in Ireland.

What Fianna Fail is doing is disgracefull and must be made public Knowledge even though the media is compromised and the oposition is cowering hoping it will all go away. IT WON'T UNTILL THE PEOPLE WAKE UP.

VOTE NO TO LISBON They will not answer for their crimes BUT YOU WILL.

by Starstruck - Dublin Shell to Sea Thu Jul 02, 2009 15:22

Minutes ago the High Court ooverturned judge Devins denial of bail to the three men still in custody in Castlerea prison,Co Roscommon
The hearing was much shorter than that for the 4 women yesterday lasting only a few minutes.
Conditions similar to those imposed upon the women were laid out,with a ban on entering Co Mayo and a bond to keep the peace.
The men must unfortunately return now to Castlerea to sign a bond with the governor and be released either tonight or tomorrow morning if this is not possible today.
The three men are in Harristown Court beside Castlerea) tomorrow morning while the four women are in Court 44 in the Bridewell behind the four courts tomorrow morning at 10.30
A date will likely be set at these mentions for full hearing of the casses in a few weeks time.
All solidarity appreciated.

Shell to Sea!

by lulu Wed Jul 01, 2009 22:01

Well done all for trying to protect rights and environment. So outraged that we forgot to note how well-detailed is Rudiger's reporting.

by Killian Wed Jul 01, 2009 21:17

For several years now we have been ruled by Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) which is "blind drunk" on power, corruption, cover-ups, impunity, and arrogance; and among the very worst of the several consequences is a long string of unconstitutional legislation.

Unconstitutional legislation is treasonous. For more on this subject please see at: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Unconstitutional+l...&aqi= .

Unconstitutional Legislation, Republic of Ireland:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Unconstitutional+L...&aqi=

It's time for our Government to sober up, and it needs to be quick about it.

Otherwise, the "cute hoors" at Shell Oil will have stolen all our oil and gas reserves: and the "hangover" for the Republic of Ireland will be very bad indeed, and extremely long-lasting.

by Billy idle Wed Jul 01, 2009 20:31

The Chinese in Tibet could learn a thing or two from this Shower

by Starstruck Wed Jul 01, 2009 20:17

After a protracted hearing the women have been released on condition they stay out of Mayo and are bound to keep the peace.
The case of the three men still in custody in Castlerea is in the High Court tomorrow morning.

The resistance continues and will not be broken,not by the most sinister state repression,court abominations and political ignorance.

by h Wed Jul 01, 2009 19:33

High court orders release of four S2S women

by xl Wed Jul 01, 2009 18:54

It's the District Court.

by Billy idle Wed Jul 01, 2009 18:39

I wonder has she taken a voluntary paycut - most judges haven't

by Masie Wed Jul 01, 2009 18:01

My question,

is this the Special Criminal Court or another form of Special Court?

The only courts definition I can find on www.courts.ie states that in the Special Criminal Court there should be 3 judges in place of a jury.

When Devin's finally gets her's, compensation should be awarded to anyone who's come under her hammer, and their records should be cleared of any convictions.

MORE NOISE needed on the streets about this - sad as it is, this is a timely opportunity to remind all those who protested when the Rossport 5 were in jail.

by Devins Watcher Wed Jul 01, 2009 17:18

See the details from 2007 at the link below. It seems plausible that the wife of a TD from a political party with a long history of outright cheating and incompetence does not share the same standards of justice, reason and accountability as the rest of us.

by John Kelly Wed Jul 01, 2009 16:44

I have no acces to a phone at the moment but the number is as above and Mark Kelly is the Director.

J K

by John Kelly Wed Jul 01, 2009 16:36

Extract from ICCL website. www.iol.ie/~iccl.crime.htm+..

"The Rights of a Person Suspected of a Criminal Offence

It is a fundamental principle of constitutional and international human rights law that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

Any crime stategy must have due regard to this basic principle of justice.

The State has all its resources at its disposal when it invesigates an offence.

The citizen, who may be rich or poor, educated or uneducated, employed or unemployed, worldly wise or naieve is entitled to certain rights and protections."

Lest there be any confusion; public order offences come under the category of criminal, not civil law.

by DIY Wed Jul 01, 2009 16:30

what did they say when you contacted them?

by John Kelly Wed Jul 01, 2009 16:18

Has anyone contacted Amnesty and ICCL ?

Colm O'Gorman of Amnesty makes a lot of noise (and rightly so) about human rights violations.

Well here we have people detained in prison with no trial and at the whim of a public servant who equates peoples right to liberty with 'smarties' .

Where are the human rights advocates as cited above ? Of course they may not be aware of this with the RTE blackout, but should they not be getting their ears burned from another direction ?

by old codger - pensioner Wed Jul 01, 2009 15:44

Berties Monkey the man who climbed every tree in the country looking for Ray Burke, is passing a new law in the dail to give Gardai and judges more power.
Fine Gael agrees with this bill , Labour says it opposes it but this may be just another wimper from Labour.
As the minister for injustice and his party pals have spent years covering up the crimes of Fianna Fail criminals,he has some cheek bringing in a law suposedly to curtail criminal intimidation of winesses. There will be no jury trials and the evidence of gardai will be accsepted as gospel by the court. There will be far greater sentances imposed.
They will of course twist the law with lies and deciept to get bigger sentances for protesters also. We all know what lies and crimes that the Gardai are commiting, now they will be able to commit more with impunity.
All protesters should combine to march on the Dail to protest at yet another erosion of human rights in the banana republic of Shell-Eire.

vote no to lisbon.

by pragma s2s Wed Jul 01, 2009 13:36

sound legal perspective from Frank Connolly in Madam K 's excellent Revolt video http://www.indymedia.ie/article/92865&comment_limit=0&c...e#com

by Tim Tue Jun 30, 2009 22:40

Actually, some of us have studied some law, and some of us were present when certain judges made certain rulings.

Case in Point, Owen Rice. 'Banned' from County Clare by District Court Judge Joseph Mangan.
He appealled this to the bail court in Cloverhill, and it was overturned by a judge, who said that he could not ban the man from the whole county.

The same man was also subject to an attempt to ban him from Dublin 2, following a protest outside the Dail. The judge in that case, said it would be unconstitutional, and at most could ban him from Kildare Street.

This is not internet gossip, this is fact, it is what happened in the courts system in this country in recent years.

The idea of banning someone from a whole country will not stand up on appeal.
People who are accused of very serious crimes do not get banned from whole counties.

by Mise Tara 7 Tue Jun 30, 2009 21:46

"When sentencing Maura H. Devins made reference to a garda video which was never shown as part of the court case".

Make this a big deal don't let her away with it .Viewing prosecuting evidence out side of court ? She has some explaining to do.

by Joe Tue Jun 30, 2009 20:38

When sentencing Maura H. Devins made reference to a garda video which was never shown as part of the court case. MH's solicitor subsequently pointed this out to her.
Devins has never given any explanation about where she saw the video, or who showed it to her.
It was a very serious slip on her part and she has yet to explain herself.

by Realist Tue Jun 30, 2009 19:17

With a legal profession that is awash with corruption (from head to toe, and particularly in the Judiciary), and which powerfully supports impunity as the core feature of its almost unbelievably corrupt tactics in relation to our Constitution and to human rights law, it's now very difficult to see how there can be any way of preventing the outright theft of our oil and gas resources: regardless of the powerful protections built into our Constitution for doing so.

The legal profession has already made smithereens of large sections of our Constitution: thanks in very large part to our Judiciary.

Thanks to this grossly corrupt abuse of the law, everything is now totally stacked against the vast majority of law abiding citizens in the Republic of Ireland, and totally in favour of the criminals operating the legal system: and their criminal clients in places like Shell Oil.

It's all a bit like being tangled up in a nightmare that you can't wake up from.

by cboots Tue Jun 30, 2009 19:04

Just one brief comment:

If you are thinking of writing to complain about District Judge Devins then the correct person to whom to complain is The President of the District Court, Judge Miriam Malone rather than the President of the Circuit Court.

Her address is also Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7.

Best of luck to all.

by Bridget Tue Jun 30, 2009 18:18

Why are you one one hand advising people to be very wary of legal advice they find on the Internet, while at the same time dishing out very powerful legal advice on the Internet yourself?

Constitutions -- the better ones that is -- are very deliberately written so that people who are not lawyers can easily understand them. Similarly with human rights law.

by Northern Light Tue Jun 30, 2009 17:58

My question is who is actually running the show i.e. who directed Devin's to jail these people? She obviously was directed to do this as has been previously stated this kind of offense happens every Saturday night all over the country and people are not jailed. Whether they are from the area or not is absolutely irrelevant. The plan is to reduce the number of activists who are willing to take direct action. In the Glen of the Downs protest in 1998 the state jailed 13 of them indefinitely ( until they agreed not to return to the area ) and that was the end of the campaign. No one was left in the Glen to run it. One difference though was that there was very little local support. But anyway who is directing Devins? Dermot Ahearn? Ultimately it must go as far as him. Sounds to me like a few sympathetic barristers are needed to throw the book back at them in the circuit court. Surely this decision wouldn't stand up in the circuit court?

by old codger - pensioner Tue Jun 30, 2009 17:27

How anyone that has knowledge of what is hapening in this corrupt state can place any hope in legal justice amazes me . we have to accept that at last the authourities of this state have been forced to expose themselves for what they are. TRAITORS.
Politicians, Judges, dpp, garda ombudsman, Gardai, and now Navy Army and airforce, are all under controll of political criminals and their cronies. They can spin all they like but these actions have prooved to all but their cronies that there is no longer any hope of democracy or fairplay in our unfortunate country.
Peacefull non violent actions against coruption will no longer be allowed and can not work, because you will be jailed immediately without your civil rights. The plan is to get you out of the way so that state crime can continue.
As this progresses there will be only one option left to anyone that has any love or alliegiance to our country and i think you all know what that is.
Devins is only one of the many corrupt people working for Fianna Fail. And the oposition do not give a damn because they also have a lot to hide.
Although many of the jailed protestors have british or French addresses they are still citizens of the EU and have every right to be in Ireland, they also have knowledge of the ongoing corruption in their home countries. Britain has a specific interest in seing this project completed, they need the gas and they will get it.
All of you young people that are not registered to vote will miss out on an oportunity to hurt these scum by voting no on the treaty that they are all desperate to bring in.

VOTE NO TO LISBON. They will not pay for their crimes but you will.

by FSB! - Rossport Solidarity Camp Tue Jun 30, 2009 17:24

...and then there was a photograph to prove it.

So there was no truck convoy then Tony, eh?

by T. - Cork Shell to Sea Tue Jun 30, 2009 17:00

I have rung the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the way to make a complaint about Mary Devins is to write a letter to:

The President of the Circuit Court
The Honourable Mr Justice Matthew Deery
4 Courts
Dublin 7

The complaint must be put in writing, please write as soon as you can and don't worry about letter writing skills, it doesn't matter if its scrawled on a postcard, the point is to get them to take notice and they'll have to if enough people complain.
The phone number is: 01 8886596 if you need to clarify any of the finer points of the complaint process.

Also the prison addresses and phone numbers are as follows if people want to ring to give messages of support to the protesters:

Castlerea Prison
Harristown
Castlerea
Co. Roscommon
094 9625213

Dochas Centre
North Circular rd
Dublin 7
01 885 8987

I just got off the phone from Castlerea and the woman was very nice I asked could she pass on our best wishes and support from Cork Shell to Sea to the 3 male Shell to Sea protesters and she said 'consider it done' so its worth ringing up, even though it took four goes of ringing out before she answered.

Also just got through to Dochas Centre to send best wishes to the 4 women protesters and the woman who answered was brusque but said 'no problem' so hopefully that message will get through but even if it doesn't it will be noted and noticed so get ringing if you can.

Love and support from Cork

by Seán Ryan Tue Jun 30, 2009 16:53

It is obvious, especially in the court, that folks who dispute with Shell's State given omnipotence, are to be treated differently than everyone else.

All that's missing is the little yellow stars, sewn into jackets and jumpers, so that everyone else knows to treat them differently as well.

In my opinion, not only should Devins be challenged on her bias via the High Court, she should be ripped from the bench and set to work cleaning toilets somewhere. No disrespect to cleaners intended.

by JB Tue Jun 30, 2009 16:46

Apart from the flaws in the report already posted to the main thing I was pointing out was the spin and changes of spin that the Indo constantly does that discredit it completely. Whether a particular set of arrests is dominated by locals or those there to support them varies according to the circumstances of the arrest. After all a couple of days back it was local fishermen that were being arrested because those arrests were for fishing at sea. These arrests were of people on and around a tripod and a road lock on, particular protest 'skills' that tend to be held by those who are there to support the locals.

It also has to be said that the Gardai seem to selectively arrest people at particular points to aid in giving one spin or another. I suspect there were locals present on Sunday but they were not targetted on that occasion. Only a fool would fail to realise the highly political and tactical nature of just about every arrest and act of repression that is taking place in the area. Who gets arrested is being done with one eye on the Gardai press office and their mission to spin things on behalf of Shell.

by Bazooka Joe Tue Jun 30, 2009 16:11

9 people who appeared in court.

Frances Barker, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Danielle Gibbons, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Sophie Bollard, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Nadim Nathan Samari, Leeds, West Yorkshire
James Marlowe, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Alma Baker, La Rochelle, France
Eoin Lawless, Charlestown Drive, Finglas, Dublin
Arina Obuchova, Kinsale, Co Cork
Cormac McHugh, Kilbrittain, Co. Cork

The Irish Times names the defendants here

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0630/1....html

There are a number of minor errors in the report. Cormac McHugh is spelled Cormack McHugh, James Marlowe is spelled James Marlow and Nadim Nathan Samari is given simply as Nathan Samari. Even though it is not an error, the last two, Samari and Marlowe gave Gardai the Rossport Solidarity Camp as their address and both defendants are originally from Leeds in West Yorkshire like the majority of the defendants. I also wonder if the Times has not mixed up the addresses of Alma Baker and Sophie Bollard? Really, that standard of journalism these days!

by Cos - No affiliations Tue Jun 30, 2009 14:58 martin_horgan at hotmail dot com

Disgusting. No consideration for the people, just profits. Makes me so angry, especially after all the bloodshed to liberate Ireland from this kind of tyranny. How much is it going to cost to secure the pipeline once it is flowing. Probably end up like Afghanistan.

by Lionel Hutz Tue Jun 30, 2009 13:38

Be very wary of accepting legal advice over the internet.

Be doubly wary of anyone who starts waving the constitution around. The constitution is a deceptively simple looking document, very short and easy to read. But the courts do not function on the basis of simply interpreting the constitution, but instead they have to deal with a lot of laws, which are more complex and and lot longer. That's why people go to college to study law, and employ solicitors and barristers. People like the various internet heroes who come on here with spurious advice about human rights and the constitution are very dangerous to campaigns. Ignore them.

Get medical advice from doctors, and legal advice from lawyers, and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble.

by Tim Tue Jun 30, 2009 13:13

I agree that the deal is also massively corrupt, but that's no reason not to appeal the bail, because it has worked in the past.
Bail issues are part of human rights rather than natural resources, so the judges do look at them somewhat differently.
The people who accepted the ban from Mayo, should seek legal advice about repudiating the conditions. The others should resist having it foisted upon them. It is totally illegal, and that judge well knew she was abusing her powers for political reasons.
She's not fit to warm the bench.

by Bridget Tue Jun 30, 2009 11:14

To Tim at Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:21:

Neither is it constitutional to be giving away our oil and gas reserves in the way it's being done: which (as I understand it) is a major part of the reason so many people are protesting -- as so they should.

Why is it that the CONSTITUTIONAL issue is NEVER raised in our courts of law -- as a defence issue on behalf of the protestors, and, far more importantly, as a defence issue on behalf of the People of the Republic of Ireland?

Instead, our legal profession goes along with the sickening pretence that the whole "Shell Deal" is entirely and unquestionably constitutional: thus grossly and slyly compounding the whole situation in a way which makes the entire god-awful mess much more difficult to ever find a JUST resolution to.

It now looks as though our guards (police), our judges, and our entire legal profession have all collectively turned their backs on Bunreacht na hEireann (literally the "Basic Law of the Republic of Ireland"): for the purpose of making absolutely certain that Shell Oil gets our oil and gas reserves for nothing as soon as possible, if not sooner.

And, as events during the past 48 hours show, anybody who physically protests in any way that interferes with the "giveaway" process is almost certain to rapidly end up in jail.

It really does look as though we are now well on the "Road To Tyranny", and accelerating.

Bunreacht na hEireann, Article 10, Royalties, Shell Oil:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Bunreacht+na+hEire...&aqi=

by Tim Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:21

Even if you don't have legal aid, you can launch this yourself.

The ban on entering the country CANNOT stand up on appeal to a higher court.
This crap has been tried to keep people out of County Clare (Shannon) or Dublin 2 (anti war protest near Dail) and in both cases, the appeal judges ruled that it is not constitutional to bar someone for such a large area of the country.

by Lugh Tue Jun 30, 2009 09:27

Having "Shell's Cops" in the Republic Ireland is one thing; having "Shell's Judges" here is something else: and something much, much more worrying.

Shell Oil Judges (US and Ireland):
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Shell+Oil+Judges+%...&aqi=

by Chrissie Tue Jun 30, 2009 09:08

Love and solidarity to the brave protestors. They knew that there was little chance of justice from Mary Devils, but they have acted for the sake of justice for all in Ireland.

by Marc Spring Tue Jun 30, 2009 00:55

This really is outrageous! What a hypocrite. On the grounds of the financial crisis she denies legal aid then spends many times that on jailing harmless people. What is her motivation? Instinctive hatred of dissent? Knowledge that if the protest succeeds, her husband's FF cronies who have hollowed out democracy in this country will have their days of power numbered?

I think a lot of hitherto uninvolved people are being led to renounce all allegiance to this state over this Corrib Gas Project. Truth will out, and when it does it will not be pretty for "Judge" Mary Devins. She has taken her place in the rogue's gallery of those who throughout the ages have twisted the law, which is supposed to be about justice, into an instrument to destroy those with the courage to do what is right. Her action stinks to heaven!

It has to be said that her sneering at the "little people" she is jailing has one merit - it shows her as she is, and it shows power as it is, with the normal veneer of civilisation removed.

Support to Eoin and co and the brave folks in Mayo.

by Ciaron O'Reilly - Queensland, Australia Tue Jun 30, 2009 00:35 Queensland, Australia

“Did you take up a law degree?” She then refused Lawless' defense argument, and remanded him to Castlereagh."

Cynicism is the 5th. column of the establishment (see also her "smarties" comment), Judge Devin exposes the courts as the first attack dog on justice. She also exposes a low quality of wit and legal knowledge.
.
Assuming the judge has taken a law degree, and not given her present position for services rendered to political power (a common occurence in Queensland at the magistrate level), she was unable to rebut the core point of presumption of innocence. Maybe she should go back and brush up on the law, less evidence presently that she can grasp principlals of justice.

The Pitstop Ploughshares had similar experiences at Shannon in '03 as the Irish courts were militarised to service the invasion of Iraq, denying bail outright to two of the activists. In this case the courts have been corporatised. As always you get the justice you can afford in these courts and the denial of legal aid is a political decision.

Solidarity with Eoin and the rest of the crew...you inspire many of us around the world to keep on keeping on. In this society sometimes you have to go to jail to be free. Looks like a few of us down here be joining you soon. You can jail the resister, you can't jail the resistance.

by Stevo - Galway S2S Tue Jun 30, 2009 00:13

Don't really want to overkill the comparison but 4 years ago a slightly smaller group of people were put on then indefinite incarceration.
When the Solitaire arrived on the 25th I was thinking that was the 4th anniversary but was corrected to the 29th. Which is of course today.
Seems about as close an approximation of justice really. Hope this/these cases can attract a fraction of the attention this campaign received 4 years ago. Just hope there isn't the same confusion about what people were fighting for when arrested, getting less public attention than the attempt to get them freed.

Wasn't bad enough that the lock on was done in p-ing rain without this being the outcome?
Or rather that the lock on was neccessary to try to prevent a load like that being carried on a road as narrow as that. Or that the load was being pushed through despite local protest which was reportedly widespread at the earlier attempt to prevent it getting through. Hundreds of people in the tripod crowd I heard.

was that the same convoy whose later attempt I passed at 12.15 today and tried to warn the camp about?