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Ben van Beurden dragged into Irish Cops Bribery Scandal

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By John Donovan

Printed below are self-explanatory extracts from an email I sent on 16 April to Johan Groenewald, the senior officer at the Garda Ombudsman Commission investigating allegations made by OSSL about Shell corrupting the Irish police force.

I am arranging  for OSSL directors to attend the Royal Dutch Shell Plc Annual General Meeting in May, as they did last year (as reported in The Observer).

Extract

The Donovans had secured places for Kane and Rooney at Shell’s annual meeting last month, to raise their grievances. Cornered, the company’s CEO, Peter Voser, suddenly ordered a further inquiry, a move echoed by the Garda.

This time they intend to publicly confront Ben van Beurden, the successor to Peter Voser, who according to OSSL, made promises he did not keep.

OSSL have already notified Ben van Beurden of their plans.

EXTRACT FROM EMAIL TO OFFICER HEADING UP IRISH POLICE OMBUDSMAN INVESTIGATION

From: John Donovan <[email protected]>
Subject: OSSL ALLEGATIONS
Date: 16 April 2014 20:22:16 BST
To: Johan Groenewald <[email protected]>
Cc: THE OSSL COMPANY <[email protected]>, neil rooney <[email protected]>

Dear Mr. Groenewald

I would respectfully like to draw your attention to an unofficial transcript of the Vincent Browne TV3 interview with Ed Vulliamy of the Guardian/Observer newspaper that took place on 3 April 2014.

A piss up at Christmas time courtesy of Shell

Its accuracy can currently be confirmed by viewing the actual interview via the link provided at the foot of the transcript.

In the course of investigating these matters Mr Vulliamy has interviewed OSSL directors Desmond Kane and Neil Rooney, plus various officials at Shell, and another knowledgeable source whose identity has never been publicly revealed in relation to this matter. He has also had direct communication with the Garda Press Office on a number of occasions.

Mr Vulliamy went on public record during the interview, without any legal preamble/disclaimer, stating his unequivocal finding that Shell did provide tens of thousands of Euro’s worth of booze to the cops at Christmas. That’s an indication of how certain he is about the matter.

EXTRACT ENDS

We also know for certain that Shell also gave alcohol as Christmas gifts to the Irish news media.

One editor returned his free wine pack after deciding that it would be unethical to accept.

Such activity is totally at odds with SHELL GENERAL BUSINESS PRINCIPLES as downloaded today, 18 April 2014 from shell.com

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It is interesting to note that although the handover from Peter Voser to Ben van Beurden took place several months ago, it is still the signature of Peter Voser displayed on the document, not Ben van Beurden. That fact provides a good indication of the importance that Shell attaches to the SHELL GENERAL BUSINESS PRINCIPLES.

Out of date and disregarded.

DOWNLOADED FROM SHELL.COM 18 APRIL 2014

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ALSO SEE: CODE OF ETHICS (Go to item g)

  • g. avoid any relationship with a contractor or supplier that could compromise the ability to transact business on a professional, impartial and competitive basis or influence decisions to be made by any Shell company; and

The Garda was a supplier of security in Rossport and cops were well rewarded by Shell for their brutality towards Corrib Gas Project protestors with a free Christmas time piss up, as memorably and accurately described by Ed Vulliamy.

Screen Shot 2014-04-18 at 12.09.55COMMENT RECEIVED FROM “AN OLD EP HAND”

Just looking through the Shell websites. Came across many business principles signed by Jeroen van der Veer…. It appears that each operating company or country has its own business principles!
 
Different principles in different companies? For a global company? Signed by v.d.Veer who has left Shell ages ago. So is it window-dressing and not maintained?
 
How come external auditors don’t pick this up? The business principles are what drives the whole business. But KPMG et all are themselves under investigation. It shows that just making some statements in nice brochures are meaningless if the people who are behind it are not interested.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

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