ActorVist Ross Monaghan - Part 1
- thegreenwash
- Jul 28, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 6, 2020
A play of two lock-ons & a bit of violence directed by, and starring, ActorVist Ross Monaghan
Tinker Lane, situated on the A634 between Barnby Moor and Blyth in the parish of Torworth, was home to an exploratory well owned by Dart Energy (Eastern). As with all unconventional drilling sites it generated opposition with residents and campaigners joining together to oppose it; activists living on a camp close to the well site added their voices to local oppositon.
Ross Monaghan, a founder member of the Tinker Lane camp site, professes himself to be a peaceful protester, climate change activist and monitor, filming and livestreaming daily events that happen at the site as well as participating in direct action. The Green Wash authors understand from various activists and residents living locally to the site that Mr Monaghan took the leading role in organising all the events and activities protesting against IGas's unconventional drilling.
At 6am on the 6th May 2018 as part of the 'peaceful' protest at the Tinker Lane site Mr Monaghan attempted to lock-on to a fellow protester however, "police foiled this and he was left alone". The intervention meant that although small vans could enter the site heavy goods vehicles had to be diverted; all this happened before the drilling rig arrived at 9:10am.
During the struggle to remove Mr Monaghan from in front of the gate he "bit one constable through his nylon safety glove, leaving a red mark".
It was only when CCTV evidence was brought forward Mr Monaghan changed his plea from not guilty to guilty. District Judge Andrew Meachin sentenced Mr Monaghan to a 12 month community order for assault with unpaid work totalling 80 days. He was also instructed to pay £300.00 court costs, £85.00 government surcharge and £50.00 compensation to the officer. Mr Monaghan is listed as being of no fixed abode, living on a protest camp site with no income, however he does survive on the generosity of the local community and in light of this was instructed to pay his fine at the rate of £10.00 a week.
The authors of The Green Wash find it incredibly strange that anyone could bite someones hand and not even know they had done it. What sort of mood must you have been in not to notice, not a very peaceful one we would suggest!
On the 8th of November 2018 two people locked together. The lock-on was deployed in the early hours of the morning with the police cut out team finishing their job by lunch-time. Following the removal of the lock-on and the two protesters parts of the rig sailed in with virtually no opposition. Where was the back-up plan for this happening? Tinker Lane had been forewarned several times the rig was due in and had been seen in the vicinity around one week before it was deployed on site. One of those who locked on is famous for his incredible truck surfing abilities. The Green Wash of Preston New Road authors are almost sure that had he been aware of the situation locking-on would not have been his first choice of delaying tactic.
Following the arrest of the two locked together, peaceful activist Mr Monaghan was caught on video tussling with the police after which he was arrested for suspected breach of the peace.
On 23rd of November 2018 at 6am as part of the on-going protests two people locked themselves together outside the gates of the well site. The direct action, lasting over 80 hours, was probably the longest lock-on in the history of English anti-fracking protests. At varying times during the 80 hour lock-on Mr Monaghan could be found livestreaming the event.
The protester seen in the above picture goes by the name of Roz Aroo.
As the weekend progressed it became clear that nothing was scheduled to go onto the site as the police left the activists in situ. However, a forcast of rain saw Mr Monaghan posting on Facebook "Urgent shout out for a gazebo at the gates we have lock on warriors on the ground and due rain tonight". The request was answered by a local resident and throughout the weekend locals and activists from other parts of the country visited the gate and the protesters.
The lock-on achievement and subsequent arrests made national news with The Guardian reporting "Man and woman to appear in court after locking themselves together for 80 hours". However, not wishing to take anything away from the achievement it can clearly be seen this was not quite true.
If there had been anything of importance due to go onto the site there is no way the police would have left the protesters there for 80 hours.
On 22nd February 2019 around 10 protesters from Misson, Tinker Lane and Reclaim the Power protested outside the gates of S Lyon and Son in Skellingthorpe in opposition to the haulage firm’s work with the oil and gas industry. Mr Monaghan was one of seven arrested, his charge this time was for common assault and failing to comply with police.
S Lyon & Son stated the protesters "caused little disruption to operations", with Warren Lyon, a director of the firm adding "our friends outside the gate have all got diesel and petrol vans which you can see they have strategically parked up the road. When they go to fill up at the garage they know they're not putting unicorn wee in - they are using fossil fuels...".
Is this a case of do as I say not do as I do?
Rathlin Energy (UK) Limited (Rathlin) are a Canadian owned exploratory drilling company with one site, West Newton A (formally West Newton 1), located at Fosham Road, High Fosham, Marton, Holderness, HU11 5DA. In 2013 the site was built and one well was drilled to a depth of approximately 3,400 metres into the Bowland Shale. In 2014 a series of well tests were undertaken before the well was suspended. In December 2018 following an extension to planning, work once again began at the site to drill a second well.
On 09 May 2019 a lock-on was deployed in front of the gates.
Despite the publicity for the lock-on it was apparent from Mr Monaghan's comments on Facebook that all was not well with the deployment. "More boots needed asap west Newton police and security forcing hgv's past lock on...".
Mr Monaghan on a later post "Latest update from wn... no arrests police facilitating trucks and hgv's dangerously close to lock on. We are holding strong but outnumbered and a little powerless right now HU11 5DF". The authors of The Green Wash would like to suggest to Mr Monaghan that more people might be able to get there to help if he stopped continually giving out the wrong address!
First rules of protesting know where you are and what you are opposing.
During the day Mr Monaghan livestreamed events, however the authors of The Green Wash respectfully request a translation for one of his posts; a correct address would be nice! "Why protest fossil fuel extraction? Should we care? Why do everyone police want to target environmentalists? West Newton needs you HU11 5DF".
The 10th of May 12:35pm and the on-going protest had by this time reached 31 hours and the ActorVist was still counting; the covering provided for the West Newton lock-on two was not quite as glamorous as the gezebo provided by the locals at Tinker Lane.
Later on the 10th May Mr Monaghan commented above pictures he had posted to his Facebook page "Lock on still going strong at west Newton despite all welfare blankets and warmth removed from protestors in lock on device HU11 5DF".
The Green Wash authors, not wishing to discredit the protesters in any way, would like to point out to Mr Monaghan that the two locked-on look very well covered to us. This is supposed to be an effective action not a sofa party, the majority of anti-fracking protesters have suffered wind and rain during lock-ons and truck-surfs with no welfare or shelter provided, unfortunately it comes with the territory.
On the 11th of May, contrary to Mr Monaghan's reports on the 9th May, he posts "West Newton lock on HU11 5DF. Lock on entering day three no hgv's on or off site well over thirty hours now". However, it appears to us the police are not taking it seriously and the two locked on are getting bored "Current scene at west Newton Drilling site..... we have a request by lock on pixies for a crossword book and pen!". Come on guys, when have you ever known this request at a lock-on? Genuine activists must have been laughing their socks off!
Further into the day the police finally arrive with the cut out crew and Mr Monaghan, who thinks it's now a party, still can't get the address right, "North Yorkshire police and cutting team turn up to join the west Newton party HU11 5DF". One anti-fracking campaigner also puzzled by the unfolding play notes under the post "Wow you would be sat in a chair why would you let someone do a lock on and still have vehicles going in and out"? The authors of The Green Wash wondered that as well.
Eventually, following cut out and arrest, the two are released from the police cells, Mr Monaghan states the lock-on lasted 55 hours, we would beg to differ. Under the cover the two delocked, walked around, sat around and generally did whatever they wanted. Funny sort of lock-on really, only ever seen one other like it and that was at Tinker Lane, again under the direction of ActorVist Ross Monaghan.
The authors of The Green Wash would like to make it clear they are not in anyway attempting to discredit those who participated in the two plays, just questioning the means, method and motives of the not quite so peaceful director.
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