belmullet court case 14 may 2008

mayo | environment | news report Wednesday May 14, 2008 13:35 by EB - SHELL TO SEA

ed collins

At Belmullet District Court today the Garda prosecution against Erris man Ed Collins (arising out of the Ogoni Nine memorial march and subsequent baton-charging of demonstrators by Gardai on 10th November 2006) reached its conclusion

At Belmullet District Court today the Garda prosecution against Erris man Ed Collins (arising out of the Ogoni Nine memorial march and subsequent baton-charging of demonstrators by Gardai on 10th November 2006) reached its conclusion

Judge Devins said she had closely studied her extensive notes from previois sittings, and said that the whole case could be summed up in one word… “confusion!”

She stated that, in her opinion, none of the evidence presented to the court, either oral or video, prosecution or defence, tallied with each other.

After re-visiting the site of the alleged “incidents” (including previous cases) Judge Devins concluded that “the only culprit down there” was the drain.

She also commented that even if the burden of proof on the prosecution was less than it is, no-one could make a proper assessment of what actually occurred that day.

Given all of this, Judge Devins ruled that the case against Ed Collins be dismissed.