Gardaí in Mayo say they welcome an attempt by leading members of the Shell to Sea campaign to avoid violence at today's "solidarity" demonstration near the Corrib gas terminal.
Several hundred people are expected at the "day of solidarity", with buses travelling last night to Erris from Dublin, Belfast and Galway. A previous "day of action" planned for late November was cancelled after eight people, including four gardaí, were injured in clashes at an early morning protest on November 10th.
The north Mayo branch of Shell to Sea emphasised this week that it wished today's event to be peaceful, with music and a "carnival" atmosphere. A letter handed in to Garda Supt Joe Gannon at Belmullet yesterday by Vincent McGrath, one of the Rossport Five, asked the gardaí to facilitate a "peaceful solidarity protest march" from Glenamoy bridge to the Bellanaboy refinery gates, where a rally and music would be held.
"The protest is intended to take place in a carnival atmosphere and it is not the intention of the protesters to interfere with access to, and egress from, the refinery site," the letter said.
The organisers would have stewards in place to "assist with crowd control and to minimise disruption to other road users," the letter stated.
Chief Supt Tony McNamara, head of the Mayo Garda division, told The Irish Timesthat he was "delighted to see the campaign interacting with us" and giving information on the protest. He also welcomed the emphasis on a carnival atmosphere.
It is understood that up to 150 gardaí will be on duty.
