Shell's police NOT Irish police

'If they want to hang me, let them and on the scaffold I will shout "Freedom for the working class!".

This quote from Mary Harris Jones (pg 31, nótaí do réabhlóidí) is in this commentators opinion, the most appropriate one we can attach to one of the most prolific Irish combatants against the multinational oil giants, Maura Harrington. I recently attended a talk from this woman in NUI Maynooth, and I stood back amazed at the sheer dignity which abounds this woman. She embodies the true revolutionary spirit of Irish women. For the last five years, she has unrelentlessly fought against the Shell/Garda occupation of Rossport, Co Mayo. It is people like Maura Harrington, and the Shell to Sea community in that small area of Co Mayo that we as young socialists should admire, and embody the spirit of resistence we know to be in existence in Co Mayo. As Sands said "It lights the dark of this prison cell, It thunders forth it's might, It's the undauntable thought my friend, That thought that says I'm right!". This thought has inspired Maura Harrington to embark on a hunger strike to demand the retreat of the Solitaire pipelaying ship, which did in the haze of a PR stunt with Shell claiming that it needed repairs. And now Maura Harrington has been found in 'contempt' of a court, which arrogantly found her 'guilty' of 'assaulting' a Garda, ordering her to pay €1000 compensation and twisting the knife by demanding she also pay €1000 to the Garda benevolent fund. Benevolence MY ARSE!!!! These same Gardaí have, since the start of their occupation, used heavy handed tactics, which many ÓSF activists have encountered, even throwing young lads in ditches! The judge presiding over this case also had the sheer arrogance to suggest Maura Harrington seek psychiatric help!! If it is a case that people who oppose exploitation, corporate greed, dodgy deals and golden handshakes then may I suggest an excellent shrink for ALL ÓSF activists and those Shell to Sea, Save Tara and Free Education for Everyone activists! Maura Harrington is now in prison, thus showing once again exactly who is protected by the Irish judiciary, Eamonn 'sorry Rossport five I've got a cushy government job now' Ryan, and the FF/Green government. IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE IRISH PEOPLE!!! Batt O'Keefe is pushing for a dáil vote on the reintroduction of third level fees next month. If FF did the honourable, decent thing and acted for once in the interests of the people who elected them, and not the multinationals, one eight of the value of the Corrib gas could fund a world class education system and another a worldclass healthcare system. Time for action! Its time for us to stand once again in solidarity with Co Mayo and demand SHELL TO SEA!!