The Irish Times – Monday, July 19, 2010
Pat O’Donnell: jailed for abusive behaviour towards a garda
BY LORNA SIGGINS
ERRIS FISHERMAN Pat ODonnell has pledged to continue his opposition to the Corrib gas project on health, safety and environmental grounds, following his release from prison at the weekend.
Mayor of Roscommon Cllr Luke Ming Flanagan sent a message of support to Mr ODonnell during a rally held by Shell to Sea supporters in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, to mark the fishermans release on Saturday morning.
Mr ODonnell (52) served just over five months of a seven-month sentence imposed at Castlebar Circuit Court on February 10th last.
He received a three-month sentence for threatening and abusive behaviour towards a garda at Glengad on September 13th, 2008, and an additional four months for wilful obstruction of a peace officer on September 14th, 2008 at Doolough, Geesala.
Speaking after the rally and a car cavalcade to Ballina, via Roscommon and Castlebar, Co Mayo, Mr ODonnell said that his worst fears had been realised in prison, when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20th.
As a fisherman, he said he felt for his colleagues who could no longer fish in the Gulf of Mexico due to the consequent pollution.
They were depending on fail safe valves which didnt work . . . the same thing could happen here, Mr ODonnell said.
He said he met some of the most decent people ever in prison men from difficult social backgrounds who had committed crime at a young age and were unable to put their lives back together.
Up to 120 attended the Shell to Sea rally to mark Mr ODonnells release, including some supporters of the Éirígí socialist republican political party. Éirígí Sligo activist Gerry Casey paid tribute in a statement to Mr ODonnells resilience and said he pledged his partys continued support for the Shell to Sea campaign.
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