Issue goes to Europe

On Monday 4 July, five Sinn Féin TDs went to the Norwegian Embassy in Dublin and handed a letter to the ambassador, asking the Norwegian Government to instruct its state Company, Statoil (36.5% of the Consortium) to use its influence with Shell to have the injunctions lifted, and to cease further work pending a full inquiry into all aspects of the project.

Dublin City Council unanimously endorsed Daithí Doolan's resolution on Monday evening calling for the release of the five men. Bairbre De Brun raised the fight of "one small Mayo community against the multinational oil giants" in the European parliament.

Sinn Féin Ogra received support from motorists when they picketed and occupied for a period one of Statoil's stations in Dublin. Michael McDowell gave extraordinary prominence to Gerry Adams' planned visit to the men held in Clover Hill, by inexplicably refusing him permission to visit the men.