OPPOSITION…Michelle Gildernew speaking in Derrylin on Sunday
FERMANAGH and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew has hit out at the fracking company which has moved in to a quarry site in Belcoo labelling their plans to test-drill as ‘stupid’.
The deepening row over fracking was highlighted during a Hunger Strike commemoration parade held in Derrylin on Sunday.
The MP’s comments were met by a rapturous applause as thousands of republicans gathered at the Sinn Fein organised event.
Describing fracking as the, “biggest threat to face this county”, Ms Gildernew spoke to the crowd stating: “You have come through Fermanagh from wherever you have come from and you are bound to have been struck by the beauty of this county.
“At the moment, there are plans to bring in hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, in Fermanagh, Leitrim and into the west of Ireland.
“I say to those people who are planning to destroy this county: it’s agriculture, it’s tourism and it’s people’s health: that fracking is not in the interest of us.
“To potentially harm the lives of thousands of people by tapping into a resource that is going to have massive health consequences without first utilising our wind and wave energy seems to be particularly stupid.
“We will continue to oppose fracking with every breath in our body.”
Sinn Fein activist Leanne Maguire from Derrylin also appealed for those attending the Hunger Strike parade to support the anti-fracking protest in Belcoo.
Meanwhile, at a shadow meeting of the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council last week, councillors agreed to take an anti-fracking stance.
All 38 councillors agreed to opposed fracking and called for an immediate recall of the NI Executive.
The proposal which was brought forward by Sinn Fein’s John Feely, was supported by Independent councillor Bernice Swift.
She said it was the responsibly of all of the Northern Ireland Executive ministers to discuss fracking.
UUP councillor Alex Baird highlighted his concerns following a request for Tamboran to carry out an Environment Impact Assessment.
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