SELECTION OF WEBPAGE HEADER IMAGES ALL FROM WEBSITES OPERATED BY JOHN DONOVAN, ALL FOCUSSED ON ROYAL DUTCH SHELL
Header images on royaldutchshellplc.com
Header images on royaldutchshellgroup.com
OSSL
Corruption of Police by Shell
Corruption of Police by Shell
Printed below is an extract from a current submission to The Pitchford Inquiry by the Shell to Sea organisation in Ireland. As can be seen, it very much involves Shell.
The Pitchford Inquiry is investigating undercover policing activities in England and Wales. Pressure is mounting to also cover the activities of undercover British police in Ireland.
EXTRACT FROM THE SUBMISSION
Corruption of Police by Shell
In March 2013 Shell to Sea contacted a reporter in the London-based Observer newspaper regarding a series of allegations which had appeared consistently since September 2012 on a website co-founded by John Donovan and his late father Alfred, available at www.royaldutchshellplc.com. It took from March until publication on 11 August to research and legal-proof the article written by award-winning journalist Ed Vuillamy (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/18/ed-vulliamy-ryszard-kapuscinski-award) under the heading ‘Strange tale of Shell’s pipeline battle, the Gardaí and £30,000 of booze’. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/10/shell-pipeline-protests-county-mayo While the reportage of alcohol provision to the police came as no surprise, we find the claim made by Mr Neil Rooney of OSSL as quoted below to be, indeed, sinister:
Irish Police, Shell, Corruption and Alcohol
Regular visitors to this website will be aware of the admittance made by a Shell “Mr. Fixit” contractor on the Corrib Gas development in Ireland, that at Shell’s behest, they distributed bribes to smooth the path of the controversial project. On one occasion, €30,000 was splashed out on free booze for the Irish police (the Garda).
Interesting then to see a recent article published by The Irish Times, reporting that a whistleblower – a serving police officer – has made bribery allegations implicating 50 Garda officers in a tale of corruption involving the pub trade. Cheers.
CORRUPT IRISH POLICE FORCE: THE GARDA
By John Donovan
OSSL is the whistleblower “Mr Fixit” company that has admitted distributing bribes to the Irish Police (the Garda) and other parties on behalf of their client, Irish Shell, to smooth the path of the controversial Corrib Gas project in Ireland.
OSSL director Desmond Kane has drawn my attention to the astonishing news articles below, which speak volumes about the deeply flawed integrity of the Garda.
OSSL has spoken directly with Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van Beurden about the corruption in question and related very serious actions carried out by OSSL at the express instruction of Irish Shell, which funded the bribes, including €30,000 worth of alcohol.
JOHN DONOVAN SAR APPLICATION LETTER TO SHELL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998
JOHN DONOVAN SAR APPLICATION LETTER TO SHELL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED UNDER THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998
19 July 2016
Mr. Gary Thomson SI-LSC/K
Shell International Limited
40 Bank Street
London E14 5NR
Dear Mr Thomson
Data Protection Act 1998 – Subject Access Request (SAR)
Thank you for your email dated 19 July 2016.
Please find enclosed completed application forms together with a postal order for £10 made out to Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
I obtained it before finding out that the fee can now instead be paid to a charity.
As you are aware, I operate royaldutchshellplc.com – a website focussed on the activities of Shell.
Blundering Shell E&P Ireland Director John Egan Resigns
By John Donovan
I am aware of speculation over the claimed resignation of John Egan, as a director of Shell E&P Ireland.
It is, in fact, true.
The proof is provided below.
For a number of years, Egan has been the Communications supremo at Shell E&P Ireland, the main partner in the Corrib Gas Project, which has been surrounded by accusations of corruption from the outset.
Ironically, in view of his conduct, Egan claims expertise in reputation restoration.
On New Years Eve, Shell warned nearby residents about gas flaring at the newly commissioned onshore processing plant at Bellanaboy.
Extract from an email sent by OSSL today to Ben van Beurden concerning Shell bribery and corruption in Ireland
Extract from an email sent by OSSL today to Ben van Beurden concerning Shell bribery and corruption in Ireland, as admitted by OSSL, the firm that worked for Shell. This is stated as a fact not an allegation.
Ethical BG …is Shell a good fit …given that The Corrib Project stinks all the way to the top
EMAIL RECIPIENTS AT BG GROUP AND ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC ARE AS LISTED
From: THE OSSL COMPANY <[email protected]>
Subject: Ethical BG …is Shell a good fit …given that The Corrib Project stinks all the way to the top
Date: 6 January 2016 at 14:22:57 GMT
To: [email protected], [email protected], tobybates <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], “<[email protected]>” <[email protected]>, “<[email protected]>” <[email protected]>
Corrib gas project spend to top €3.6bn as Shell await Government approval
The costs of the Corrib gas project are set to top €3.6bn by the end of this year, more than four times the original estimate of €800m.
Gordon Deegan: Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Yesterday, operator Shell E&P Ltd confirmed that the 2015 spend by the Corrib partners on the field will be €260m.
Some €320m was spent last year, as total costs approach €3.6bn by the end of 2015.
A spokesman for Shell Ireland said: “As construction of the Corrib development is essentially completed, the capital investment in the project will reduce significantly from 2016 onwards.
“The Corrib facilities have been technically ready to start up since September 1 last.
“After what has been a protracted development phase, Shell is understandably eager to start producing gas as soon as possible.
Shell racks up nearly €100m loss as it waits on go-ahead for first Corrib gas
Corrib Gas Project mired in corruption allegations and a related cover-up led by Michael Crothers
Paul O’Donoghue: 18 November 2015
The company behind the controversial Corrib gas project racked up losses of over €98m last year as it awaits a final government permit to begin flowing gas at the site.
Accounts just filed for Shell E&P, the Shell subsidiary managing the project in Ireland, show administrative costs amounted to €18.8m last year, down from €20.3m in 2013.
It made an operating loss of just over €26m compared to €28.5m the year before. Most of the loss was an actuarial loss that related to the firm’s pension scheme.
Outspoken articles about Shell
Outspoken articles about Shell
2017
Shell’s litigation in the U.S. courts over misappropriated $1.4bn Nigerian oil: 18 April 2017
Ben van Beurden distracted by a wiretapping incident: 18 April 2017
Neal Katyal, the best justice money can buy: 17 April 2017
The world’s biggest ship originally with a Nazi name, now named Pioneering Spirit: 16 April 2017
Keith Ruddock and the OPL 245 scandal: 16 April 2017
Unsubstantiated allegations against Shell CEO Ben van Beurden: 16 April 2017
Shell’s Nigerian Nightmare Continues: 16 April 2017
Spectacular falling out of ‘Security Professionals’ at the top of Shell: 12 April 2017
How Shell fell out with former FBI Special Agent Crockett Oaks III: 12 April 2017
Can Shell CEO Ben van Beurden Survive OPL 245?: 11 April 2017
OPL 245: Shell admits it knew payments would go to convicted money launderer: 10 April 2017
Key role of Shell Chairman Malcolm Brinded in OPL 245 Scandal: 10 April 2017
OPL 245: I think Shell may be in a spot of bother: 10 April 2017
New leaked emails put Shell at centre of billion dollar bribery scheme…: 10 April 2017
OPL 245 Scandal: Wiretapped phone call between Ben van Beurden and Simon Henry: 9 April 2017
APRIL 2017: TOP U.S. LAW FIRMS BATTLING TO FRUSTRATE ESTHER KIOBEL LITIGATION AGAINST SHELL: 7 April 2017
Shell’s Nigerian Quagmire: 25 March 2017
Benzene exposure risks and the Norwegian Oil and Gas Industry: 23 March 2017
A/S Norske Shell Secret Meeting With Whistleblower : 22 March 2017
Shell’s tacit acknowledgement of a ‘culture of fear’: 20 March 2017
Shell Upstream Director Admits Culture of Fear Among Shell Employees: 20 March 2017
OPL 245: A falling out of thieves: 19 March 2017
Disillusioned Shell Whistleblower Runar Kjoersvik: 17 March 2017
Shell Sinking in OPL 245 Quicksand: 17 March 2017
LEAKED EMAIL FROM SHELL MD TOR ARNESEN ABOUT SHELL SPYING ON ITS OWN EMPLOYEES: 15 March 2017
Web Attack on Whistleblower by Shell Upstream Director: 13 March 2017
Employees Exposed to Benzene Contamination at Shell Nyhamna Gas Plant: 11 March 2017
Shell Multimillionaire CFO Simon Henry Departs Today: 10 March 2017
Shell confirms several countries investigating OPL 245 scandal: 10 March 2017
NEW SHELL MI6 SPY POPS UP IN OPL 245 ARTICLE: 9 March 2017
MI6 Spy Network Inside Shell: 9 March 2017
SHOW TRIAL OF A SHELL NORWAY SAFETY REP: 7 March 2017
Shell Prelude FLNG project relegated to backburner: 6 March 2017
OPL 245 scandal and Shell’s former MI6 spies: 5 March 2017
Informers regime at Shell Nyhamna Gas Plant: 4 March 2017
Kiobel vs Shell discovery doc battle continues in US Courts: 4 March 2017
LEAKED EMAILS SHOW SHELL AND ENI CONSPIRING TO HIDE PAYMENT IN CORRUPT OPL 245 DEAL: 3 March 2017
Financial tremors for Shell/Exxon (NAM) triggered by Dutch earthquakes: 2 March 2017
Shell trying to ignore media firestorm in Norway: 1 March 2017
Shell Nigerian corruption, lunch and lots of iced champagne: 28 Feb 2017
Shell, the oil giant run by unscrupulous hypocrites: 28 Feb 2017
Climate of fear at Shell Nyhamna Gas Plant in Norway: 27 Feb 2017
Dysfunction Crisis and Scandal at Shell Norway: 26 Feb 2017
Oil Resumption in Ogoni: Does Our Society Still Have Any Conscience?: 25 Feb 2017
Fake news naming Shell as an animal testing company?: 23 Feb 2017
Shell’s Role in Irish Police Corruption Scandal: 23 Feb 2017
Simon Henry sells another £1m worth of Shell shares: 17 Feb 2017
Trials and Tribulations of Royal Dutch Shell Plc: 16 Feb 2017
US Legal Battle over 100,000 Shell Internal Docs: 16 Feb 2017
US appeal against order to hand over Shell docs for Dutch case: 14 Feb 2017
Shell Charged With Corruption In OPL 245 Nigerian Oil Deal: 13 Feb 2017
Brexit, Trump, Populism and Royal Dutch Shell Plc: 12 Feb 2017
Which Members of the Royal Dutch Shell Executive Committee Approved the OPL 245 Scam?: 10 Feb 2017
Italian prosecutors seek trial of Shell Foundation Chairman Malcolm Brinded on OPL 245 Corruption Charges: 8 Feb 2017
Royal Dutch Shell CEO: Dividends No Longer No.1 Priority: 8 Feb 2017
€8.5 million Shell slush fund mishandled in Ireland: 5 Feb 2017
Reflecting on the anti-Leigh Day verdict in Shell Nigerian oil spill case: 31 Jan 2017
NIGERIAN AUTHORITIES SEIZE BILLION DOLLAR OIL BLOCK FROM SHELL AND ENI: 27 Jan 2017
Shell Nigerian Litigation: Win in UK. Loss in USA: 26 Jan 2017
A deserved shitstorm of Shell Nigerian litigation: 25 Jan 2017
A poisoned chalice for Shell’s Ceri Powell: 24 Jan 2017
New Boss of Shell Exploration: 23 Jan 2017
Discrepancy in Shell’s Corrib Gas Project financial filings?: 22 Jan 2017
Royal Dutch Shell Plc.com in Chapter 11: 21 Jan 2017
Hakluyt & Company Spying Missions For Shell: 20 Jan 2017
Royal Dutch Shell Motiva Blues: 19 Jan 2017
Royal Dutch Shell Hydrogen News: 18 Jan 2017
Think Twice Before Disclosing An Idea To Shell: 17 Jan 2017
Dramatic Breakup of Shell/Saudi Aramco jv Motiva: 16 Jan 2017
Shell a player in Iranian oil machinations: 16 Jan 2017
Esher Kiobel v Shell article published in Dutch FT: 15 Jan 2015
Resurrection of Kiobel v Royal Dutch Shell litigation: 11 Jan 2017
On 11 Jan 2017 RoyalDutchShellPlc.com will publish Court Orders involving Shell: 11 Jan 2017
Shell Chairman named in $1.3 billion OPL 245 fraud: 7 7 Jan 2017
Financial tremors for Shell and Exxon from Groningen earthquakes: 6 Jan 2017
Royal Dutch Shell hardline attitude to its employees: 5 Jan 2017
Royal Dutch Shell PLC saddled with a mountain of debt: 3 Jan 2017
OPL 245: Shell and Eni executives set to be arraigned: 1 Jan 2017
2016
Dan Etete turns on his accomplices Eni and Shell: 30 Dec 2016
Alarm Bells – Shell Pearl GTL gasifiers crippled?: 28 Dec 2016
Shell’s complicity in human rights abuses in the Niger Delta: 27 Dec 2016
ENI AND SHELL TO BE PROSECUTED OVER OPL 245 $1.1 BILLION CORRUPTION SCANDAL: 24 Dec 2016
A devastating blow for Shell in U.S. Federal Court: 23 Dec 2016
Explosive allegations around Shell and Eni’s OPL 245 deal: 23 Dec 2016
Obama’s April Fool’s Joke Approving Shell Arctic Drilling: 22 Dec 2016
RoyalDutchShellGroup.com for Shell Breaking News:21 Dec 2016
THE OPL 245 SCANDAL INVOLVING SHELL: 21 Dec 2016
Corruption of Police by Shell: 16 Dec 2016
Shell cost-cutting plan will undermine the welfare of its pensioners: 12 Dec 2016
Shell Canada President Michael Crothers says Canada should stick to its values: 29 Nov 2016
Pleased to assist Leigh Day in Suing Shell says John Donovan: 22 Nov 2016
21st Anniversary Commemoration of Ogoni Martyrs: 12 Nov 2016
LIVING IN TRUMPWORLD: 11 Nov 2016
The Uncensored History of the Shell Brent Oil and Gas Field: 9 Nov 2016
Award for deadly Corrib Gas Project: 8 Nov 2016
Irish Police, Shell, Corruption and Alcohol: 7 Nov 2016
No credibility in Shell Peak Oil Forecasts, says John Donovan: 3 Nov 2016
Hearing on Royal Dutch Shell: Committee Room 1, House of Commons Wednesday 2 November 2016: 1 Nov 2016
Lament for Royal Dutch Shell: 14 Oct 2016
CORRUPT IRISH POLICE FORCE: THE GARDA: 10 Oct 2016
Australian Government unconvinced about FLNG safety claims: 28 Sept 2016
OSSL Whistleblower Email Sent to Irish Police, Irish Times and Shell on 28 August 2015
From: THE OSSL COMPANY <[email protected]>
Date: 28 August 2015 08:10:45 BST
To: Pearse_Street_DS <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], Commissioner <[email protected]>, “<[email protected]>” <[email protected]>, Michiel Brandjes <[email protected]>, [email protected]
Subject: Corrib CEO ..a Shell man …the day the nightmare began …top cop Gannon.
The Shell CEO appointed to Corrib, accompanied by his Local liaison officer unannounced arrived in the premises of OSSL.
Shell accused of providing £25,000 in alcohol to police
Richard Hartley-Parkinson for Metro.co.uk
Wednesday 22 Jul 2015
Shell has been accused of supplying £25,000 in alcohol to Irish police officers by two suppliers to an Irish gas project.
Desmond Kane and Neil Rooney both claimed in court that they were told by someone from Shell E&P Ireland to buy the alcohol, according to the Irish Journal.
Rooney told Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court that he was asked by senior pipeline engineer Conor Byrne to make the delivery in 2007.
He said he initially bought £7,000 worth of alcohol but was told by Byrne ‘you stupid c**t, there’s over 300 guards here, you’ll have to go back and get more’.
Shell asked for £25,000 worth of alcohol to be delivered to gardaí in Mayo, court told
The detailed claims were made in a Mayo court last week.
TWO FORMER SUPPLIERS to the Corrib gas project told a jury they supplied £25,000-worth of alcohol to gardaí in 2007 on behalf of Shell E&P Ireland.
The allegations were made by Desmond Kane and Neil Rooney, co-owners of OSSL, which had previously supplied personal protective equipment for the Corrib gas project in north Mayo.
Both claimed that a person from Shell E&P Ireland asked them to buy alcohol in Northern Ireland and store it in a container at the back of their premises in Bangor Erris.
Men tell court they supplied alcohol to Belmullet Gardaí for Shell
EXTRACTS
Under oath, Mr Neil Rooney claimed that the first delivery of alcohol to Belmullet Garda Station was made in 2005, and that in 2007, he was asked by Conor Byrne, a Senior Pipeline Engineer with Shell, to make a large delivery.
Mr Rooney, from Downpatrick, Co Down, said he went to the north and bought £7,000 worth of alcohol. When Mr Byrne saw the amount of alcohol, Mr Rooney claimed he was told there were 300 gardaí in Erris and to get more. He said he bought another £18,000 worth of alcohol.
Irish Company Freely Admits Distributing Bribes On Behalf of Shell
PHOTO CAPTION FROM RECENT IRISH TIMES ARTICLE: Bríd McGarry, a Mayo landowner, and Mary Corduff, wife of jailed farmer Willie Corduff, after five Mayo farmers were jailed in 2005 for refusing to give an undertaking not to obstruct the construction of the Corrib gas pipe line. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Printed below is a comment on the Irish Times article received from OSSL, the Irish firm currently the subject of an investigation by the Irish police (the Garda) for alleged harassment of parties who received bribes distributed by OSSL on behalf of their disreputable employer, Irish Shell.
Mayo men sue gardaí over alleged brutality at Shell to Sea protest
Article from BreakingNews.ie published Wed 29 April 2015
Mayo men sue Irish Cops over alleged brutality at Shell to Sea protest *(were the cops tipsy?)
Three Mayo men are suing for damages over alleged garda brutality at a Shell to Sea protest eight years ago.
Patrick Coyle, and brothers Patrick and Martin O’Donnell, claim they were assaulted at Bellanaboy bridge on January 19, 2007.
It is the men’s case that gardaí displayed brutality and indiscipline during a protest outside the Shell oil refinery at Bellanaboy.
They claim Patrick Coyle was punched in the face and struck on the back of the head while trying to stop another demonstrator being pulled from the line of protesters by gardaí.
SHELL’S COPS
EMAIL SENT TODAY BY FORMER SHELL E&P IRELAND SUPPLIER OSSL, TO THE IRISH POLICE ( THE GARDA) AND SENIOR SHELL EXECUTIVES, INCLUDING BEN VAN BEURDEN.
OSSL HAS BLOWN THE WHISTLE ON SHELL CORRUPTION OF SENIOR IRISH COPS NAMED BELOW AND IS NOW BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE SAME POLICE FORCE ON BEHALF OF THE IRISH DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS FOR ALLEGED HARASSMENT.
From: THE OSSL COMPANY <[email protected]>
Date: 24 April 2015 07:29:29 BST
To: “Belmullet.DistrictOffice” <[email protected]>, “<[email protected]>” <[email protected]>, [email protected], Commissioner <[email protected]>
Subject: police alcohol DPP has Belmullet Policewoman investigating Belmullet delivery with a …view to prosecuting the Shell vendor who delivered the Shell / Garda joint venture alcohol .
Another can of worms for Shell
By John Donovan
The lid on the corruption scandal in Ireland involving a “Mr Fix” company OSSL, its client Shell E&P Ireland, and various recipients of Shell’s generous bribes distributed by OSSL, keeps coming off.
Recipients have included senior Irish Police Officers, who took delivery of £30,000 of free alcohol kindly supplied by Shell.
One local family had a tennis court installed at their property as another spectacular gift from Shell. They must think it’s perfectly normal for an oil company to install tennis courts to buy influence.
SHELL CORRUPTION OF IRISH POLICE, AS ADMITTED BY ITS AGENT/CONTRACTOR: OSSL
Photo: John Donovan: Co-founder Royal Dutch Shell Plc.com
EMAIL FROM JOHN DONOVAN CIRCULATED TO EVERY IRISH T.D. ON 6 APRIL 2015
Response from The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission on 2 April 2015
SHELL CORRUPTION OF IRISH POLICE, AS ADMITTED BY ITS AGENT/CONTRACTOR: OSSL
(£30,000 worth of free alcohol given as a Christmas Gift to Garda officers.)
On 25 March 2015, I sent an email to the GSOC at the written invitation of Irish Justice Minister Ms Frances Fitzgerald T.D. supplying new evidence pertaining to the OSSL allegations against Shell E&P Ireland.
It was in the form of an audio file and related transcript of a covertly recorded meeting between OSSL directors and their Dublin solicitor, Mr Marc Fitzgibbon. He suspected that the meeting was being recorded by OSSL, but said he was not concerned if it was. The alcohol was mentioned over 60 times in the recorded meeting.
Shelling Out Sweeteners
By John Donovan
The Irish satirical website broadsheet.ie has published an extensive article about Shell sponsored corruption in Ireland involving gifts (bribes) of up to €900,000 in value.
The website has published two key items; an invoice sent to Shell E&P Ireland by its agent OSSL for £30,000 worth of alcohol supplied to named senior police officers and a transcript of a covertly recorded 42 minute meeting between OSSL and its Dublin solicitor when the alcohol was mentioned over 60 times.
The solicitor in question Mr Marc Fitzgibbon, attended multiple high level meetings with Shell when the supposedly non-existent alcohol was freely discussed.
Shell has acknowledged receipt of the OSSL invoice raised years after the alcohol was supplied. It should be a simple matter for the police or tax authorities to investigate whether the invoice is legitimate.
Third Successive Year of OSSL Pre-AGM Bombardment of Shell Underway
By John Donovan
The third successive year of a pre-AGM email bombardment of Shell by its former “Mr Fixit” company in Ireland, OSSL, is fully underway.
Several emails are sent every day by OSSL, not just to top executives at Shell, such as Ben van Beurden but to the Irish Justice Minister and Senior Irish Police Officers.
The subject is always the same.
The alcohol purchased by OSSL on behalf of Shell, which OSSL distributed to senior Irish police officers on behalf of Shell. Police officers who took delivery are named in the emails. They were also named in a taxation invoice sent to Shell by OSSL for some £30,000 worth of police alcohol.
Email to John Donovan from the Irish Justice Minister
CORRUPTION SURROUNDING THE CORRIB GAS PROJECT IN IRELAND
By John Donovan
Today, apparently by co-incidence, I received an email sent to me on behalf of the Irish Justice Minister, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, T.D. (Photo)
It was only yesterday that I posted an article on the above subject after a long break in coverage.
The email from the justice ministry contains an apology for the delay in responding to a communication I sent to the minister several months ago. It related to the admittance by a Shell supplier OSSL, that it had for a long period distributed bribes to the Irish police, and other Irish parties, including land owners, at the express instruction of their client Shell EP Ireland. I reported the unusual circumstances in which OSSL was demanding payment from Shell to cover bribes paid on its behalf.
SHELL AGM 2015: IRISH POLICE ALCOHOL BILL ON THE AGENDA
JOHN DONOVAN EMAIL TO MR MICHIEL BRANDJES, COMPANY SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL CORPORATE, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC
On 3 Mar 2015, at 23:40, John Donovan wrote:
Dear Mr Brandjes
Several months ago, I publicly accused OSSL directors of bombarding Shell with blackmail demands for two years over the Shell sponsored corruption scandal in Ireland.
OSSL directors admitted supplying “gifts” on behalf of its client Shell EP Ireland to various parties, including the Irish police, to smooth the troubled path of the Corrib Gas Project.
One apparently legitimate OSSL invoice to Shell was for £30,000 of free booze showered on Irish cops accused of acting brutally towards “Shell To Sea” campaigners.
Irish Police reopen and expand investigation into Shell corruption case?
By John Donovan
According to an insider source, the Irish Police Garda Ombudsman Commission has reopened and expanded an investigation into evidence of corruption surrounding the Corrib Gas Project in Ireland.
I understand that this development was prompted by new evidence published on this website in relation to the whistleblower Irish company OSSL. Its directors have admitted distributing bribes on behalf of the Shell led project consortium.
This apparent development seems to be at odds with a statement issued by the Irish Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, in the Irish Parliament on 4 December 2014.
OSSL strenuously denies allegations that it has attempted to blackmail Shell and its project partners, Statoil and Vermilion. Shell has provided written proof that it has received hundreds of money demands from OSSL for the alcohol.
IRISH GOVERNMENT RESPONSE ON OSSL/SHELL SCANDAL
In addition to these issues being pursued by Irish TD’s seeking the truth, I now intend to bring these matters to the attention of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission in relation to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. I will also be circulating a full brief, supported by hard evidence, to every US Senator and Congressman.
By John Donovan
Printed below is a question kindly raised yesterday in the Irish Parliament by Clare Daly TD together with the official response from the Irish Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald.
My comments are posted under the link to a press statement by Irish Shell.
QUESTION NO: 114
DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Ms. Fitzgerald)
by Deputy Clare Daly
for WRITTEN on Thursday, 4th December, 2014.
* To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has referred the information brought to her attention in relation to invoices sent from OSSL to Shell and E and P Ireland on 24 August 2012 regarding deliveries of alcohol to Gardaí, to Tax and Customs authorities for investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Danger to Shell from Class Action Lawsuits Arising from Bribery
By John Donovan
Two articles have just been published about bribery that have relevance to Shell and its shareholders.
An article by The Economist under the headline “Graft work” makes the point that “The most briberiddled sectors are oil, gas, mining, construction and transport.”
Extract
GONE are the days when multinationals could book bribes paid in far-flung countries as a tax-deductible expense. These days would-be palm-greasers have to contend with ever-tougher enforcement of old laws, such as America’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, and a raft of new ones in countries from Britain to Brazil.
The other article worth reading is also in relation to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Published by the Legal Newsline, it reports on the filing of a class action lawsuit alleging that an oil company – Cobalt International Energy – has violated United States federal law by engaging in bribery with foreign officials.
Shell’s disdain for its governing constitution, Shell Business Principles
By John Donovan
A few days ago I published an article pointing out that the Shell Business Principles document, proclaiming Shell’s core values and setting out the ethical platform on which Royal Dutch Shell supposedly operates, is conspicuously out of date.
The version published on shell.com still bears the name of Peter Voser who resigned as Shell CEO in controversial circumstances a year ago.
The document is accessible in multiple languages on shell.com. Those in Dutch, Chinese, German, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese – are all signed by Peter Voser.
Shell corruption that led to blackmail
The invoice for the alcohol has been the foundation of a two year blackmailing operation with OSSL bombarding money demands on Shell for alcohol Shell had already paid for in full. Consequently, the OSSL invoice is of huge significance in relation to alleged very serious corruption and associated blackmail on an unprecedented scale.
EMAIL FROM JOHN DONOVAN TO FRANCES FITZGERALD, JUSTICE MINISTER OF IRELAND.
From: John Donovan <johndonovan@
Subject: OSSL SHELL BLACKMAIL/CORRUPTION
Date: 24 November 2014 22:07:25 GMT
Cc: [email protected]
To: INFO <[email protected]>Dear Justice Minster Frances Fitzgerald
I am writing as a follow-up to my email of 4 November 2014.
Your office acknowledged safe receipt in the response sent on your behalf on 19 November.
I believe you will find that a number of TD’s will be contacting you on this matter.
There is a key piece of evidence that I suspect has never received the scrutiny it deserves.
OSSL SHELL BLACKMAIL
OSSL is demanding payment for over €30,000 worth of alcohol OSSL supplied to Irish cops on behalf of Shell, which says it entered into a full and final confidential settlement with OSSL in August 2012 and refuses to pay them off again.
Desmond Kane of OSSL outside Shell office in Dublin
By John Donovan
On 16 November 2014 I informed a senior Garda officer about an apparent blackmail operation by an Irish company OSSL being carried out against the Corrib Gas Project, led by Shell.
I supplied details from the most recent blackmail note/email sent by OSSL dated 14 November 2014 to various people at Shell, Statoil and Vermilion.
The following day I received an email from OSSL containing an unspecified threat, which I assumed to be a threat to issue a defamation action.
By coincidence or otherwise, the bombardment of hundreds of money demands to Shell and associated parties over the past two years appear to have ceased on 14 November.
BLACKMAILING SHELL: DEFAMATION THREAT FROM OSSL
We at OSSL would like to caution you as the editor of your Shell Blog, about the use of the term blackmail in the matter headlined above.
EMAIL RECEIVED FROM OSSL
From: THE OSSL COMPANY <[email protected]>
Date: 17 November 2014 08:54:38 GMT
To: John Shell News <[email protected]>, Michiel Brandjes <[email protected]>
Subject: Unfounded claims of Blackmail ..Shell / Police / alcohol gifting /OSSL
Mr Donovan ,
We at OSSL would like to caution you as the editor of your Shell Blog, about the use of the term blackmail in the matter headlined above.
There is no question of OSSL attempting to blackmail Shell, we would point you in the direction of this fact ….the monetary ingredient in this dispute is not a demand for cash from Shell ….which is Shells cash …..it is a demand for the return of our cash laid out on Shells behalf at their demand to satisfy purchases for covert items of which “police alcohol” and “tennis courts” are only part of the whole picture .
OSSL BLACKMAIL PLOT AGAINST SHELL
To its credit Shell has not given in to the subsequent money demands, but neither has it apparently reported the matter to the Irish Police. One can see the difficulty. How do you go about asking the Irish police to investigate a blackmail plot over free alcohol worth over €35,000 given to the Irish Police accused of being “Shell’s Cops” and acting brutally towards people protesting against the controversial project?
JOHN DONOVAN EMAIL TO SUPERINTENDENT PATRICK DISKIN OF THE IRISH POLICE, THE GARDA
From: John Donovan <[email protected]>
Subject: OSSL BLACKMAIL PLOT AGAINST SHELL
Date: 16 November 2014 20:43:08 GMT
Cc: [email protected], Ed Vulliamy <[email protected]>, Lorna Siggins <[email protected]>, Dan Griffin <[email protected]>, Áine Ryan <[email protected]>, Paul O’Donoghue <[email protected]>, “Boucher-Hayes, Philip” <[email protected]>, Olga Cronin <[email protected]>, Erlend Skarsaune <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Pending Vacancy for Company Secretary of Royal Dutch Shell Plc?
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR A PENDING VACANCY AT ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC FOR THE POSITION OF COMPANY SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL CORPORATE. THE VACANCY ARISES FROM THE PENDING RETIREMENT OF THE CURRENT HOLDER, MR MICHIEL BRANDJES (ABOVE). GENEROUS SALARY, CHAUFFEUR, PRIVATE JET AND BONUS SCHEME FOR THE RIGHT PERSON.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Must have flexible integrity, a wiliness to bend rules and regulations, communicate in double Dutch, participate in cover-ups (e.g. the Brent Bravo scandal), mislead financial regulators and shareholders (reserves scandal), ignore emails, even from Shell shareholders; delay issuance of profit warnings; put the best interests of crooked Shell directors first, in the confident knowledge that they are insured against incompetence, negligence and dishonesty, and can still walk away with an $18.5 million payoff (Sir Philip) even if they ruin the company.
- Be prepared to conspire with colleagues, anticipating potentially embarrassing questions that might be raised at the Shell AGM and devising deliberately evasive and misleading answers.
- Willing to have tea and biscuits with Messrs Kane and Rooney when they make their annual OSSL blackmail pilgrimage to the Shell AGM, demanding payment for alcohol used to bribe Irish cops on Shell’s behalf.
- Vigorously defend Shell’s whitewash of its support for Hitler and the Nazi.
- Fend off all claims that Shell has stolen Intellectual Property.
- Be prepared to authorise private undercover spies to infiltrate and destroy/undermine perceived enemies, such as Greenpeace and anyone that sues Shell.
This assessment of ideal requirements is based on the current occupant of the office of Shell Company Secretary and his recent predecessors.
Interested?
This is the link you need to use for all Shell job applications.
http://www.shell.com/global/aboutshell/careers.html
Note from John Donovan. The timing of this invitation is based on my information that Mr Brandjes is 60 years old in December and will be retiring from Shell. If this is wrong, then he only needs to let me know and it will be removed immediately. I would send him an email to double check but he never bothers to reply even though I am a Shell shareholder. Nonetheless, I hope that he has a long enjoyable retirement whenever that day arrives.
Shell gave Irish Cops enough alcohol to stock a pub
Above item recently circulated by OSSL
EMAIL FROM JOHN DONOVAN TO FRANCES FITZGERALD, IRISH MINISTER FOR JUSTICE. SENT 10 NOVEMBER 2014
From: John Donovan <johndonovan@>
Subject: OSSL Shell
Date: 10 November 2014 16:17:03 GMT
Cc: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Dear Justice Minster Frances Fitzgerald
I sent an email to you on 4 November 2014 regarding the corruption/blackmail allegations surrounding OSSL and Irish Shell.
The basic issue raised is whether OSSL has been blackmailing Shell in relation to alcohol improperly supplied to the Garda by OSSL on behalf of Shell.
In this connection, I supplied you with a covert recording of a consultation between OSSL directors and their then solicitor, Mr Marc Fitzgibbon of the Lavelle law firm in Dublin. I also supplied a transcript. Both are now accessible online.
SHELL OSSL IRISH FABLES
Shell says the alcohol never existed. On the other hand, if it did exist, they have already paid for it as part of a full and final settlement with OSSL who, in addition to being bootleggers, may also be blackmailers demanding money from Shell over a bribery scheme.
THE AUDIO OF THE COVERTLY RECORDED CONSULTATION BETWEEN OSSL AND MR MARC FITZGIBBON OF THE LAVELLE LAW FIRM DUBLIN IS NOW ACCESSIBLE BELOW. APOLOGIES FOR SOME OF THE LANGUAGE USED BY MR DESMOND KANE.
By John Donovan
Subject to any technical glitch or legal challenge, I intend to publish on the Internet within a few days, a number of items of evidence relating to the OSSL corruption allegations against the Shell led Corrib Gas Consortium in Ireland.
The allegations include bulk delivery of free alcohol to senior Irish Police Officers by way of an extremely generous Christmas gift from the Consortium venture, which involves Shell, Statoil and Vermilion.
Some might call it a bribe.
OSSL, a small local company admitted purchasing the alcohol in Northern Ireland, transporting it across the border and handing it over to the Garda. All on the instructions of named individuals at Shell.
Corrib Gas Project: Blackmail & Corruption?
JOHN DONOVAN EMAIL CIRCULATED 4/5 NOVEMBER 2014 TO EVERY IRISH TD MEMBER OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.
This information is being supplied to you despite written threats I have received from Mr Marc Fitzgibbon, a senior partner of Dublin law firm, Lavelle.
Mr Fitzgibbon represents OSS, the small “Mr Fixit” company which has distributed “sweeteners” (bribes) to smooth the path of the controversial Corrib Gas Project – the consortium venture led by Shell (45%), in which the Norwegian State Oil company Statoil (36.5%) and the Canadian company, Vermilion Energy (18.5%), are Shell’s partners.
Shell/OSSL: The Irish Policing Fiasco Continues
By John Donovan
SHELL FUNDED CORRUPTION IN THE CORRIB GAS PROJECT IN IRELAND
According to an Irish Independent article, the former Irish Justice Minister, Alan Shatter, who corresponded with me in relation to the OSSL corruption allegations against Shell and the Irish Police, has launched a blistering attack on the bosses of the watchdog Garda Ombudsman service (GSOC).
The GSOC is the hopelessly incompetent outfit responsible for a so-called “investigation” of the OSSL allegations. In fact, they never even approached a key witness, Mr Marc Fitzgibbon, a senior Dublin lawyer. He was personally present during a series of meetings with top people at Shell, when OSSL demanded and Shell agreed to pay OSSL for goods and services used to bribe various parties on behalf of Shell, including senior Irish cops.
OSSL/SHELL: AN ANONYMOUS LETTER WITH A DUBLIN POSTMARK
You and your late father seem to have started out trying to hold Shell accountable for its actions. I hope you agree that accountability goes both ways, and it is fair that you should be held accountable for your own actions as well. The energy that fuels your website seems to be a deep resentment, or even hatred.
By John Donovan
I have published below a letter received today from Ireland. It relates to OSSL allegations against Shell.
Although the source is anonymous, the letter writer seems intelligent and genuine.
Otherwise I would not publish it or respond to what is said.
The first version is exactly as received.
In the second version, for ease of reference, I have inserted my comments in red text.
AN ANONYMOUS LETTER WITH A DUBLIN POSTMARK
Sept 4, 2014
Dear Mr Donovan
You and your late father seem to have started out trying to hold Shell accountable for its actions. I hope you agree that accountability goes both ways, and it is fair that you should be held accountable for your own actions as well.
Is Police Corruption Legal in Ireland?
By John Donovan
On 1st September I sent an email to Desmond Kane of OSSL containing these opening paragraphs from a proposed article…
OSSL, the former Mr Fixit company for Shell EP Ireland, distributed sweeteners (bribes) on behalf of Shell to various parties to ease the tortuously slow progress of the controversial Corrib Gas Project.
The lucky recipients included a senior Irish Police Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent John Gilligan ([email protected])
I asked Mr Kane whether the article, including the above paragraphs, was okay.
OSSL email sent to Irish Justice Minister today
By John Donovan
The following is an email OSSL sent to the Irish Justice Minister earlier today, copied to Shell.
One name has been redacted. One sentence has been deleted.
From: THE OSSL COMPANY <[email protected]>
Date: 4 September 2014 07:52:21 BST
To: “<[email protected]>” <[email protected]>, Clare Daly <[email protected]>, Michael Crothers <[email protected]>
Subject: Please be clear ….
Minister, please be clear on the instruction of Shell we delivered alcohol …to your Mr John Gilligan ….and your Mr XXXXX XXXXXXX.
Update on OSSL Corruption Allegations Against Shell
By John Donovan
A contributor to the Shell Blog has requested an update on the long running OSSL saga. OSSL is the former “Mr Fixit” company working for Shell in Ireland that blew the whistle on alleged corruption surrounding the controversial Corrib Gas Project.
There have been two internal investigations by Royal Dutch Shell and three by the Irish police authorities. All reached the conclusion that there is no evidence to support the OSSL allegations.
In fact, there is evidence but for obvious reasons, neither the police nor Shell want to reveal the truth.
Shell connection?: Garda laptop found in a Dutch brothel
By John Donovan
The Irish Independent newspaper has published an article reporting that a worker at a Dutch brothel discovered a bag apparently containing “a laptop and documents as well as an “insignia” that allegedly identified the owner as being a member of An Garda Siochana” – the Irish Police force.
I note that comments have already been posted on the article raising the subject of the free alcohol given by Royal Dutch Shell to the Garda as part of Shell sponsored corruption surrounding the Corrib Gas Project.
Shell whistleblower OSSL challenges Irish police officers to take lie-detector test
By John Donovan
OSSL, the company that admits supplying free alcohol to Irish police on behalf of Shell EP Ireland is challenging senior Irish police officers, who apparently deny receiving the goods said to be worth tens of thousands of Euros, to take lie detector tests.
The challenge is contained in an email sent earlier today to senior executives of Shell including the Company Secretary of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Mr Michiel Brandjes.
OSSL directors say that they are prepared to take lie-detector tests themselves with Shell representatives in attendance.
No prospect of libel action by Shell or the Garda against OSSL
By John Donovan
Áine Ryan of The Mayo News has published an article today under the headline: Shell and An Garda Síochána welcome the report
According to her article, following publication of the Ombudsman findings, both Shell and the Garda have declined to say whether they will take legal action against OSSL “for possible reputational damage due to the public nature of the allegations.”
I can answer this question with complete confidence.
There is absolutely no chance that this would happen because the truth might come out.
Top criminologist calls for inquiry into Corrib policing
Extract from a Lorna Siggins article published by the Irish Times Friday 11 July 2014
The Queen’s University Belfast academic who exposed the South Yorkshire police handling of the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster has supported calls for a full review of the policing of the Corrib gas project in north Mayo.
Criminologist Prof Phil Scraton says international concern about Garda handling of opposition to the gas project reflects a belief that it has “moved beyond a series of specific incidents to something of much greater institutional consequence”.
He considers that the policing of the gas project from late 2006 merits a non-statutory review of all available documentation, which could be a prelude to a full statutory inquiry.
Shell cleared of bribing Irish Police, but for how long?
By John Donovan
According to a report published earlier this evening by the Irish Examiner, it appears that Shell has been cleared of bribing the Irish police.
Under the circumstances I will expect libel writs in the post from those police officers who I have named as being involved in the corruption which took place.
Should I be worried? Not at all.
The verdict of no evidence is in line with the previous internal investigation results by the Irish Police and Shell.
What will it do to the already heavily damaged reputation of the Irish Justice Ministry, the Garda and the Garda Ombudsman Commission, if in fact there is hard evidence proving the OSSL allegations?
Garda watchdog finalises investigation into Belmullet garda booze allegations
Extract from an article by Áine Ryan published in The Mayo News Tuesday 8 July 2014
THE Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has confirmed to The Mayo News it is finalising its report about allegations by a former Shell contractor that Belmullet gardaí were given booze bribes. The allegations by services company, OSSL, have been reported in local, national and international media and were the subject of an internal inquiry by Shell and two Garda investigations.
Mr Desmond Kane, of OSSL, has claimed his company was instructed by Shell personnel to deliver a large amount of alcohol to Belmullet Garda Station before Christmas 2007. Shell has rejected the claim. However, Mr Kane says that, because of a dispute with the company, he was never paid for this delivery. He says he did get paid for earlier, smaller booze deliveries and other ‘sweeteners’ to local people.
Legal panel to examine Garda misconduct allegations
By John Donovan
The Irish Times has published an article under the headline “Legal panel to examine Garda misconduct allegations.”
Extracts
The Government has decided to hire seven barristers to examine as many as 220 outstanding allegations of Garda misconduct received from members of the public in light of the whistleblowers affair. The move came as the Government approved terms for draft laws to strengthen the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission with new powers, including the right to investigate any alleged criminal conduct by a Garda commissioner. In respect of some 220 allegations about members of the force, Attorney General Máire Whelan will engage a panel of two senior counsel and five junior counsel to scrutinise files and advise whether further action is required. At issue is a deluge of allegations received from the public by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Ministers, TDs and Government departments.
Call for a Public Inquiry into the Policing of the Shell/Corrib Gas Project
Call for a Public Inquiry into the Policing of the Shell/Corrib Gas Project by the named eminent individuals and parties listed below
We support the recent demands for an inquiry into allegations of systemic Garda corruption and violence. We believe any such inquiry should include the Shell/Corrib pipeline police operation in North West Mayo. This is one of the longest running police operations in the history of the Irish state and has drawn critical attention from national and international human rights organisations1 since 2006 over the alleged violence and intimidation used by Gardaí against campaigners.
In 2007, campaigners submitted complaints en masse against the Gardaí to the newly established Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC). Out of the 111 complaints received by GSOC between May 2007 and November 2009, 78 were deemed admissible and 7 sent to the DPP. The DPP rejected prosecution in all 7 cases. The majority of campaigners have since stopped submitting complaints to GSOC. In 2010, complaints from 400 Kilcommon residents were submitted to Shell’s Belmullet office detailing the “escalating physical and psychological harassment” continuing in the area. In 2012, residents again submitted a mass complaint, this time to Mayo County Council, outlining serious grievances arising out of the project, including experiences of private security and state policing, with no result. Any inquiry into the policing of the Shell/Corrib Gas Project cannot ignore the following extract from the minutes of the Shell Committee of Managing Directors meeting held in London 22/23 July 2002:”It was noted that development of the Corrib field may be delayed until 2004 as planning consent had been refused for the terminal. The committee queried whether the Group had sufficiently well placed contacts with the Irish government and regulators. Paul Skinner undertook to explore this issue further in consultation with the Country Chairman in Ireland”.
Garda Ombudsman Investigation of Shell Corruption allegations in disarray
By John Donovan
The investigation of allegations made by a Shell whistleblower company OSSL, of alleged Shell sponsored corruption of the Irish police, appears to be in a shambles following ill-judged on-the-record comments by the officer leading the inquiry, Johan Groenewald.
The relevant extraordinary email correspondence with me can be viewed here.
In the exchanges, which became heated on his part, Mr Groenewald denounced OSSL as being untrustworthy, rubbished and disregarded vital evidence, issued a threat against me and denied that he tore up (and has apparently disregarded) statements given to a senior Garda officer by OSSL directors. At some point he seems to have lost his impartiality.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
