Wiwa slams Shell during Famine Walk

eme to install a dangerous experimental gas pipeline and build a giant refinery near Rossport. Vincent McGrath is one of the Rossport 5 who spent three months in prison for their refusal to allow Shell access to lands near their homes.

McGrath said nothing had changed since he was sent to prison. The recent government safety report did not deal with the concerns of local people, he said, nor has any change been made to the terms of the deal, whereby Shell will be allowed to sell the natural gas back to the Irish people at the full market rate.

Owens Wiwa said that while Shell refuses to build a platform offshore to refine the Corrib gas, they were prepared to operate offshore elsewhere around the world. He said Shell should get a better deal for Ireland in terms of the ownership of gas resources. "Why should a company come and take everything and give peanuts", he asked.

Chief executive of Shell Ireland, Andy Pyle, recently said the company would consider building an offshore platform, but within a day Shell had gone back on this. Local people are aware that Shell are likely to start work again in the near future and are prepared to face prison again to stop them. A solidarity camp has been established for visitors to the area who wish to help with the campaign.

• There is a bus from Dublin to the Rossport Solidarity Camp organised for the June Bank Holiday Weekend. Ring 0868537281 for details.