Shell Contractor Quarry Shut Down For Day

mayo | environment | news report

Wednesday August 31, 2011 22:28

by j debender - Rossport Solidarity Camp

A field in Aughoose, between Bellanboy and Pullathomas

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Barret’s Quarry in Bangor Erris shut down by protesters

On Wednesday 31st August at 8am 15 people entered Barrett’s quarry, just outside Bangor Erris in Co. Mayo and stopped work for the whole day, leaving at 5:30pm. Barrett’s is a subcontractor on the Corrib Gas Project, currently bringing truckloads of gravel and hardcore to Shell’s site in Aughoose.

Occupying the machines in the site

Entering the quarry site Wednesday morning was easy, as there were only a couple security guards and there is no fencing around the site aside from the front gate. Once people were on site work was halted pretty quickly as people climbed up onto diggers and other machinery.

No attempt to remove the protesters was made, and the day was pretty calm. Folks even got up to playing werewolves and charades while on the machinery in order to pass the time.

At 5:30 after all the workers had gone home and there was no chance of them resuming their deliveries to the Shell site, all the protesters left through the front gate.

Protesters have been targeting Barrett’s lorries on the public road over the last few weeks as they were trying to make their stone deliveries to the Shell compound, by stopping them and climbing on top of them. This occupation of the quarry itself is a message to all contractors working for Shell on this project.

Nearby Lennon's Quarry also supply material to the site and have also had many of their vehicles occupied in recent weeks. Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway said today: "Both businesses will continue to be a target of the campaign until they end all work at Shell sites.''

entering the site