Man arrested in connection with Woodburn drill protest released

Protestors at Woodburn on Thursday morning. INCT 08-722-CON

The man was given an £85 penalty notice for disorder, said a PSNI spokesperson.

Residents and members of the Stop the Drill group are holding an ongoing protest close to the proposed site for an exploration well on the outskirts of Carrick.

They have been maintaining a presence at the location since ‘keep out’ signs were erected on Monday.

The project, led by oil exploration firm InfraStrata, has attracted strong opposition in recent months with concerns over the potential for contamination of the local water supply. NI Water, which has leased the site to the firm, has repeatedly rejected this claim.

With contractors arriving to prepare the site, a number of vehicles were used to block access. One of these was towed away.

PSNI Chief Inspector Stephen McCauley said: “As a police service we respect the rights of people to protest as long as it is within the parameters of the law.

“Anyone who chooses to participate in the protest should do so peacefully.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and engage with all interested parties moving forward.”