Four men objecting to the building of a gas pipeline in Co Mayo are in jail this morning after their imprisonment yesterday for refusing to allow Shell begin work on their land.
A fifth man was also jailed by Mr Justice John McMenamin for failure to observe a court order granting access to the north Mayo lands for preparatory work to begin on the Corrib pipeline.
The five north Mayo men - James Brendan Philbin, brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath, Willie Corduff and Micheál Ó Seighin - could be joined by more objectors today.
A number of other local people are also facing imprisonment when proceedings alleging breach of the same order, granted on April 4th last, come before the court tomorrow.
Mayo Independent Jerry Cowley
The five - whose committal was sought by Shell E & P - will remain in prison until they purge their contempt before the High Court. Three of the five will also appear in court today in respect of a separate action taken by Shell.
Mr O'Sheighin's daughter Brid will read a statement prepared by him at a press conference in Dublin later today. She will also outline protest plans prepared in response to the jailings.
Relatives and supporters of the men said they would picket the Dail today at 12.30pm. Last night, 150 supporters staged a protest outside Mountjoy jail where the men were briefly held before being moved to Cloverhill.
Protetsts are planned in Galway and Mayo and Minister for Natural Resources Noel Dempsey is facing a stormy session in the Dáil today when Mayo TDs are due to put him under pressure.
One of the issues likely to be raised is the department's role in granting an order for work to begin despite concerns, which the department shares, over the risk-assessment report for the pipeline.
The objectors have expressed their concerns about the pressure at which the gas will pass through the pipe, which goes from the shore at Glengad to a terminal in Bellanaboy.
They have received considerable political support for their campaign and their claims.
"They have been criminalised because they are afraid to live beside this pipeline. I'm calling on the Minister Noel Dempsey to intervene at this stage and address the issue," Mayo Independent Jerry Cowley said.
Mr Dempsey said yesterday he could not interfere in court decisions. A review of the disputed quantitative risk assessment ,which protesters say was carried out by a company part owned by Shell, is due soon.