From top: Protest in Corrib, 2006; Mark Kennedy
The Pitchford Inquiry in the UK is investigating all undercover police operations conducted by English and Welsh police forces in England and Wales since 1968.
Shell to Sea, the County Mayo-based group that fought the building of a natural gas pipeline through the village of Kilcommon, Erris, are calling for the Minister of Justice, Francis Fitzgerald to seek that the inquiry include the activities of undercover police in Ireland.
The German Government, the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister, have all called for the remit of the inquiry to be widen to include the activities of the undercover British police in their jurisdictions.
In an open letter Minister Fitzgerald, Shell To Sea writes:
It is known that undercover British police officer, Mark Kennedy operated in Ireland intermittently for a number of years including monitoring Shell to Sea in March 2006. It is suspected that after leaving the British police Mark Kennedy provided information on protesters to energy companies.
Shell to Sea is calling on Minister Fitzgerald to add her name to this list of other Governments and call for the Pitchford Inquiry to extend the inquiry into activities of undercover British officers in Ireland.
Shell to Sea have also made a submission to the Pitchford Inquiry and British Home Secretary seeking the terms of the inquiry be extended to include Ireland.
The seriousness of these undercover operations were emphasised by President Michael D Higgins speaking in 2011 regarding Mark Kennedy’s activities stating “It is of grave concern. This type of activity undermines respect for the law and it is very sinister in that it can damage good causes.”
Meanwhile..
Mark Kennedy (centre) at a Shell To Sea gathering In Bellnaboy, Co Mayo in 2006
Shell to Sea submtted the following questions to Minister Fitzgerald.
How many and which undercover British police officers targeted protesters opposing the Corrib gas project?
Who authorised Mark Kennedy’s (& any other undercover police officers) trips to Ireland?
What State bodies knew of the presence Mark Kennedy and other undercover police officers during their deployment here?
Who chose the Irish campaign groups, activists and protests to be targeted?
Who received any intelligence or evidence that was gathered by Mark Kennedy in relation to his monitoring of the Corrib Gas protesters
Did Shell or any other companies or people connected with the Corrib Gas Project receive any of the intelligence or evidence that was gathered by Mark Kennedy?
Did other foreign police or security services seek permission for or deploy undercover agents to monitor the activities of Corrib Gas protestors
Was any of the intelligence or evidence that was gathered by Mark Kennedy (or any other undercover police officers) used in the prosecutions of protesters opposed to Corrib Gas project?
Who paid for Mark Kennedy’s undercover work in Ireland? Did any of the money come from the Irish Exchequer?
What lawful authority did Mark Kennedy have to undertake his undercover operations in Ireland?
What details were the Gardaí and other State bodies given on Mark Kennedy’s undercover operations prior to him being deployed in Ireland?
What, if any “rules of engagement” with campaigners were given to Mark Kennedy during his time as an undercover agent in Ireland?
What oversight did the Gardaí or other State bodies have on Mark Kennedy during his time in Ireland?