Irish Independent: Judge restrains residents in pipeline dispute: “The interlocutory injunctions will continue until the hearing of the action brought by Shell against the six or until further order of the court.” (ShellNews.net) 5 April 05

A GROUP of six people were restrained by High Court orders yesterday from interfering with Shell E and P Ireland Ltd laying a gas pipeline across their lands from the Corrib gas field.

The interlocutory injunctions will continue until the hearing of the action brought by Shell against the six or until further order of the court.

The company claims the €900m project 65-miles off the Co Mayo coast is intended to be commissioned in October 2007 and it is envisaged that in full production it will provide 60pc of the country's gas requirements.

The company claims there are about 30 landowners along the nine kilometre route and all but seven had consented to the work being carried out. The other 23 have been compensated.

The restraining orders are against Philip McGrath, James B Philbin, Willie Corduff, Monica Muller and Brid McGarry of Rossport South, Ballina, and Peter Sweetman, Grosvenor Road, Rathmines, Dublin, who was stated to be an occupier of Ms Muller's property.

On the question of the balance of convenience he said if the company was not granted the injunctions its work would be delayed for one year. He also had to take into account the national interest outlined to the court and which concerned the economic interests of the State as a whole.

He gave the six defendants liberty to apply to the court.

Paul Muldowney

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