Ex-Sgt James Gill

Barrister Leo Mulrooney to ex-Sgt James Gill: “Complete the now well-known phrase 'Give me your name and address or I'll...' “
Ex-Sgt James Gill : “I don't understand the question”
Barrister Leo Mulrooney:“Do you know what I'm referring to when I say those words”
Ex-Sgt James Gill: “No”
Leo Mulrooney: - “'Give me your name and address or ...' “
Judge Margaret Heneghan interrupts: “He said 'No', next question”

And so the lies of Corrib Gardaí continue in court !!!!

Related Links:
sgt james gill suckin diesel or taking the piss? | Understanding tonights RTE apology for bias in Corrib gas dispute | Jim Cusack does it again: the case of the wrong video tape | Business as usual for Gardaí – trying to smear women in ‘rape tape’ controversy | 100 protest at Belmullet Garda Station to demand independent inquiry | Report on Dail protest against rape comments by gardai | ‘Give me your name and address or I’ll rape you’: the reality of Corrib policing

Last Friday saw retired Sgt James Gill awarded €33,000 plus legal costs by Judge Margaret Heneghan for a defamation case that he took against prominent Shell to Sea campaigner Pat O'Donnell. Mr Gill claimed that Mr O'Donnell accused him at a protest at Bellanaboy on November 3rd 2006, while other protesters and gardaí were in the area, of stealing diesel and smuggling tyres across the border. Mr O'Donnell denied saying those comments to Gill but the Judge believe the word of Gill and made the award.

James Gill is the Garda Sergeant that made the infamous comment “Give me your name and address or I'll rape you” which was recorded last March 31st (https://www.indymedia.ie/../article/99445)

However James Gill is also the Garda with probably the longest and most involved history of any of the Gardaí that have policed the Corrib Gas Project. He sat on the Shell's Project Monitoring Committee for 5 years, his brother's scaffolding firm AGS was employed by Shell and I have personally witnessed him viciously assault campaigners on a number of occasions. I wish that I didn't feel the need to write this negative article about a Garda who doesn't police for Shell anymore, but that thisman's good name was valued at €33,000 is an absolute disgrace.

What happened in Court

Last Wednesday saw the hearing of the case. In the case Mr Gill claimed that Mr O'Donnell had accused him of being a thief but this was denied by Mr O'Donnell. Mr O'Donnell said that on the morning in question he had engaged in banter with other protesters and had referenced diesel which had been stolen from him previously in 97 or 98. Mr O'Donnell claimed that he had said that it's easier for people to steal diesel because all the Gardaí were up protecting Shell. He also said that he had said that the Gardaí uphold the law one day and break it the next, referring to the fact that the Gardaí were being well-behaved that day as there was politicians present but that other days they would beat up the protestors. Mr O'Donnell denied that any of this was directed at Mr Gill specifically.

In evidence Mr Gill stated that after Mr O'Donnell had made the comments that other protesters began making similar comments and that this has caused him a lot of stress. He felt that his credibility had been undermined, and that the comments would “sully his reputation” and felt it would hurt his children,“if their father was named a thief”. He stated that a gastric ulcer which he had had previously had been exasperated as a result of the comments and that he ended up with symptoms of Post traumatic stress disorder.

Under cross-examination from Mr O'Donnell barrister Leo Mulrooney, Mr Gill stated that this defamation case was not about money, that it was about his reputation. Twice in his cross-examination Mr Mulrooney attempted to introduce element of the infamous 'rape-tape', of which Mr Gill was the main player. First of all Mr Mulrooney attempted to ask Mr Gillif he had ever had discussions with other Gardaí on how to present evidence in court. This was a rather obscure reference to the 'rape-tape', which only someone who had listened to the 'rape-tape' would have seen where it was going. However obviously Judge Heneghan had done her homework, immediately shutting down that line of questioning saying that only relevant matters were to be discussed.

For his second attempt later on, Mr Mulrooney tried a more direct approach asking Mr Gill to complete the well-known phrase 'Give me your name and address or I'll...' “. However Mr Gill feigned ignorance and in a most blatant lie stated that he didn't know what Mr Mulrooney was talking about. Mr Mulrooney then asked if Mr Gill was serious that he didn't know what was being spoken about seeing as it had been front page news for a week and had been raised in the Dáil a number of times. At this Mr Gill's barrister Seamus Ruane jumped to his feet objecting, stating that if Mr Mulrooney was referring to the events of the 31stof March then they had no relevance to the case that was being tried. Mr Mulrooney argued that the subject being spoken about was of absolute relevance in ascertaining Mr Gill's good reputation.

Gill outside Bellanaboy 0.44 Mb Gill tangling with protester in June 2009 0.23 Mb These injuries were caused when James Gill kicked this protestor causing him to fall against barbed wire 0.16 Mb Garda SL286 John Sweeney who Pat O'Donnell accused of being involved in the breaking 3 of his ribs 0.38 Mb

Standing on the Peat truck outside the refinery

Friday 25th November saw over 5 hours of Shell's peat and stone haulage completely blocked by campaigners, and no arrests were made. First thing in the morning four campaigners had trucks blocked for over an hour and a half, and later on one person climbed on top of a peat truck outside Shell's Bellanaboy refinery, remaining there for 3 and a half hours stopping all haulage.

Related Links:
Shell's Peat Haulage Has Begun... And Been Disrupted ! | Day of Solidarity in Erris, Co. Mayo | Shell's Peat Haulage Has Begun... And Been Disrupted ! | Campaigners block Shell's peat haulage morning after An Taisce faces local community | Occupy Shellanaboy set up at refinery gates in Erris | An Taisce withdrawal sparks four protests in two days | IRMS continue to assault Corrib campaigners on public roads | The Strange Adventure of Dick and Liz in Drumshambo | Fracking in the Lough Allen & Clare Basins

Early morning truck blockade 0.13 Mb Quarry trucks all blocked up 0.08 Mb Afternoon truck-sit 0.34 Mb

IRMS illegal use of force, they have no jurisdiction on the public road

Friday 22nd July Shell brought a digger and a port-a-cabin into the existing temporary compound in Aughoose. This is in preparation to start building a permanent compound in Aughoose from which they hope to start digging the tunnel for the pipeline which will connect Ballinaboy refinery to the 70 kms of offshore pipeline. They will come in full force on Monday 25th July, please come up to Mayo and show your support! A mass day of action is planned for Friday 29th July, but come up any time.

Related Links:
Shell start work at Arghoose compound in Erris - day of action called | Mayo County Council steal caravan from Rossport Solidarity Camp at 3am | Occupation of Shell peat storage facility in Mayo | Shell Office Blockaded for 6 Hours | "Take him! Take him!" - The Trial of Éirígí's Daithí Mac An Mháistir | Impromptu 2 hour tractor occupation at Shell Compound | Shell Offices blockaded for five hours | The Strange Adventure of Dick and Liz in Drumshambo | Fracking in the Lough Allen & Clare Basins | Shell compound occupied for 9 hours – third action in two days |

IRMS blocking public road 0.16 Mb IRMS blocking road 0.11 Mb IRMS blocking road 0.65 Mb injury from IRMS 0.18 Mb

Direct Action at Work!

We are taking continuous action to frustrate Shell's work and need your support. Shell's Corrib Gas Project is already decade late and 3 times over budget - impressive for a rural community fighting one of the biggest multinationals in the world! The injustice faced by the community here is symbolic of the corruption and problems faced by people all over Ireland.

Related Links:
Party Against the Pipe | shell work stopped as Gardaí continue to endanger campaigners | One Gas Well to Secure Ireland's Energy Supply!!! | Report from the annual Good Friday walk | Protesters Halt Another Day of shell's Work | shell's IRMS security NOT WELCOME in Enniscrone | IRMS security works with Gardaí to block shell to Sea protesters | Report on Dail protest against rape comments by gardai | shell's Work Disrupted for 12 Hours in Aughoose Co. Mayo | On eve of judicial review, Rossport Solidarity Camp breaks up shell transport lines. | Tearing Up The Tracks | shell’s work suspended by Day of Action | Urgent call out! Shell have started work-Days of action this Fri 1st & Sat 2nd April | Work restarts in Mayo | 22 TDs gather at gates of Dail to demand reversal of Corrib pipeline consents | Camp Work Weekend and Walk the pipe tour | shells Work Stopped for 4 hours | Rossport Solidarity Camp is Up! | Enda -prove you are for the people of Mayo | shells Work Stopped twice in two days | shell to Sea encourages people to enter Statoil competition | Questions for Politicians | Non Violent Direct Action Training 5-6th March | shell granted planning permission in mayo | shell To sea Solidarity Action Ghent ( Belgium). | Review of the Corrib Gas Project Oral Hearing | Joe higgins interviewed on RT. By contrast, Vincent brown sneers at him and screws shell to sea | Budget Day drama on Kildare Street | People's Alliance march in Tullamore | Four years since baton charge on peaceful protestors

Shell to Sea - Official Website
Rossport Solidarity Camp - Official Website

If you have problems accessing the shelltosea site directly, try going HERE and typing in the web address.

Work Restarts in Mayo - Opposition Goes On!

Come up straight away or join us for the Days of Action this Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd April. Accomodation & food provided, donations welcome. email or txt 0851141170 for details.

The injustice faced by the community here is symbolic of the corruption and problems faced by people all over Ireland.

Related Links:
Work restarts in Mayo | 22 TDs gather at gates of Dail to demand reversal of Corrib pipeline consents | Camp Work Weekend and Walk the pipe tour | shells Work Stopped for 4 hours | Rossport Solidarity Camp is Up! | Enda -prove you are for the people of Mayo | shells Work Stopped twice in two days | shell to Sea encourages people to enter Statoil competition | Questions for Politicians | Non Violent Direct Action Training 5-6th March | shell granted planning permission in mayo | shell To sea Solidarity Action Ghent ( Belgium). | Review of the Corrib Gas Project Oral Hearing | Joe higgins interviewed on RT. By contrast, Vincent brown sneers at him and screws shell to sea | Budget Day drama on Kildare Street | People's Alliance march in Tullamore | Four years since baton charge on peaceful protestors

Shell to Sea - Official Website
Rossport Solidarity Camp - Official Website

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