Speaking at Leinster House, Sinn Féin's spokesperson on agriculture, Martin Ferris TD, has supported a call for an independent enquiry into the policing of the Corrib Gas Project.

He was responding to a call from Afri, Action from Ireland, supported by other human rights activists, for an enquiry into serious concerns about the policing of the project.

Deputy Ferris said: "There are more complaints about gardaí at the Corrib Gas protests than anywhere else in the country. That alone would merit an enquiry, but we are also aware of specific incidents which are very worrying.

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"The call from Afri, supported, among others, by Bishop Desmond Tutu, Denis Halliday who is a former UN Assistant Secretary General and Ed Vulliamy of The Guardian newspaper, draws attention to incidents such as the physical assault of Willie Corduff in Glengad in April 2009, the sinking of Pat O'Donnell's boat in June 2009 and the widely-reported 'rape tape' incident.

"These incidents are among many which have taken place and coupled with the failure of attempts to make gardaí accountable for their actions, point to the urgent need for a proper public enquiry."

(CD/JP)