'Rape Tape' Sergeant's retirement party turns sour

mayo | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Saturday March 10, 2012 18:46 by Press release

Garda threats and one person arrested in Belmullet protest outside the infamous Sgt. James Gill's retirement party

Friday 9th March at 6.30pm a group of two-dozen campaigners and Erris residents gathered outside the Broadhaven Bay Hotel in Belmullet, Co. Mayo where ex 'rape tape' Sergeant James Gill was having his retirement party.

The ex-sergeant himself

The protest was called because many people felt it was 'grossly inappropriate' for Gardaí to be celebrating a person who is still under investigation by the Garda Ombudsman for his comments about raping two women in police custody last April. [1]

Mr Gill - a long-term officer involved in the continuing Corrib gas debacle - is also currently embroiled in a civil suit against fisherman and Shell to Sea campaigner Pat 'The Chief' O'Donnell. [2]

The protest was held in a public place outside the entrance to the hotel, but Gardaí smashed and stole people's signs and threatened them with batons. Martin McDonnell of Glenamoy was also arrested.

Shell to Sea spokesperson Terence Conway commented "Any celebration of this man is an insult to our community, and is a particular insult to women the day after International Women's Day, given the controversy over the so-called 'rape tape' investigation, which is still ongoing."

"We will continue to seek justice and exercise our rights, and the authorities need to take a good look at what is happening to our community and address the real problems with Corrib" Mr Conway concluded.

ENDS

FOR VERIFICATION CONTACT:

Terence Conway
Maura Harrington

LINKS:
[1] 'Rape tape' report: http://shelltosea.com/content/%E2%80%98give-me-your-nam...icing
[2] Court report from ex-sergeant Gill's defamation case: http://shelltosea.com/content/court-report-%E2%80%9Crap...30000
[3] Mayo News report on defamation case: http://shelltosea.com/content/chief-cries-foul

Outside the Broadhaven Bay Hotel