Corrib campaigner on hunger strike in Castlerea prison

On Wednes­day morn­ing the 12^th of June Liam Hef­fer­nan — a cam­paign­er from the Ross­port Sol­i­dar­i­ty Camp — was arrest­ed at Augh­oose, Coun­ty Mayo under sec­tions 8 and 9 of the Pub­lic Order Act for alleged­ly obstruct­ing Shell con­struc­tion vehi­cles with­out law­ful author­i­ty or rea­son­able excuse.

At Bel­mul­let Gar­da sta­tion Mr. Hef­fer­nan was offered to enter into a bail bond with the con­di­tion that he stay away from the Shell tun­nelling com­pound at Augh­oose. After refus­ing this extra­or­di­nary con­di­tion, he was remand­ed to Catlerea prison, Co. Roscom­mon for two days until the court sat on Fri­day morn­ing last.

In Har­ris­town Court, Castlerea, Mr. Hef­fer­nan, defend­ing him­self, read a state­ment to the court say­ing that he believed he was being ille­gal­ly detained and informed the Judge of some of the his­to­ry of the Cor­rib gas project and his rea­sons for protest­ing at Augh­oose. The Judge replied that he should take up these issues with the High Court and/or the Gov­ern­ment. At this point Mr. Hef­fer­nan accept­ed to enter into the bail con­di­tions set out by the Judge and to appear before Bel­mul­let Dis­trict Court on the 10th of July.

The Judge how­ev­er found prob­lems with Mr. Hef­fer­nan’s sig­na­ture and remand­ed the cam­paign­er in cus­tody until the next sit­ting of Har­ris­town court.

Today, Thurs­day the 20th of June, marks Liam’s ninth day in prison and fourth day on hunger strike. Sup­port­ers of Liam are invit­ed to attend Har­ris­town Court, Castlerea, tomor­row,  Fri­day the 21st of June at 10.30am