Hundreds of Garda deployed to protect Shell’s machine from the people of Ireland

July 30, 2012, Donagh, Leave a comment

Hundreds of Garda deployed to protect Shell’s machine from the people of Ireland

Shell to Sea were out last night filming the massive police presence protecting what no doubt the Irish state and Shell would prefer remained a secret, the movement of Shell’s Tunnel Boring Machine from Dublin Port to Corrib.

A huge secretive Garda security operation last night swung into operation in Dublin Port as Shell’s Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) left the port as part of a huge convoy of Garda vehicles. News of the operation had leaked at the last minute meaning that with only an hours notice a handful of Shell to Sea campaigners managed to get down to the port entrance despite the pouring rain. Most of us were pulled over and questioned by Garda at least once and the Garda helicopter stayed overhead as various Garda vehicles including a van load of riot cops with the door open drove past us repeatedly.

Our presence appeared to cause some delays as the convoy left the port over 90 minutes past the planned departure time. Such was the huge Garda force present that all we could do was film the convoy as it left the gates, the video is below. Other campaigners who followed the convoy reported that there were Garda on every overpass on the motorway leading out of town and individual Garda every 50 or so meteres along the road. They reported that it reminded them of the level of policing deployed during the British Queen’s visit last year. No one was allowed overtake the convoy which moved at about 50km as it headed west. This huge police presence indicates an awareness of just how unpopular the Great Oil & Gas Giveaway has become with the population and a fear that if news had leaked out sooner significant attempts to stop the convoy leaving the port would have been possible.