Irish Independent: Rossport 5 must wait to learn fate: “The Mayo men have already served 94 days in jail for refusing to obey a High Court order not to interfere with construction of the Corrib gas pipeline.”: Wednesday Oct 26, 2005

THE Rossport Five must wait another two weeks to see if the High Court is to punish them further over their pipeline protest.

The Mayo men have already served 94 days in jail for refusing to obey a High Court order not to interfere with construction of the Corrib gas pipeline.

Brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath, Willie Corduff, Michael O Seighin and Brendan Philbin have become heroes to many since they were jailed for contempt of court in June.

High Court President Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan told the men yesterday that he would rule in two weeks what sanction if any should be imposed on them for disobeying the court.

The men were released at the end of September after the Shell oil company applied to have the temporary injunction which restrained interference with the pipeline lifted.

The men's families and supporters were in court to hear counsel argue the men had already served a significant time in prison

But the judge said the men had not complied with a court order and their time in prison had nothing to do with punishment.

Ann O'Loughlin

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