Prince of Darkness Peter Mandelson lobbied strongly to bring pollution to the Sperrin mountains of Co Tyrone. This was Dalradian Gold’s proposed gold mine at Greencastle. There have been more objections to this planning application than to any other planning application ever in Northern Ireland.
Given his record, there must be questions as to whether he was paid, as British Ambassador to Washington, to influence Northern Ireland’s planning system.
Last year Mandelson held a St Patrick’s Day breakfast in Washington, while still Ambassador. He invited representatives of mining company Dalradian Gold to attend. Afterwards he stayed in contact with the mining company. The Belfast Telegraph has uncovered documents which establish this.
Mandelson wrote to the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service saying delay in giving Dalradian Gold planning permission was “off-putting to investors.” He wrote similar letters to the First and Deputy First Ministers.
Mandelson has a long record of links to the likes of Dalradian Gold. Your Party MP Jeremy Corbyn spoke in the House of Commons on Thursday, February 4th. He said an absent Keir Starmer “would have known of Mandelson’s record of an interesting relationship with global dealers in minerals.”
Records from the Epstein Files show Mandelson and his husband receiving large sums of money from Epstein. Mandelson previously had to resign from the British Government because of murky financial dealings.
Thus there is reasonable suspicion he may have received payment for his lobbying on behalf of Dalradian Gold. Anti-mining campaigners in the Sperrins are demanding this be investigated.
Militant Left is actively involved in the campaign. The proposed mine will bring no significant benefit to the area. If it is opened, the profits will go to Dalradian Gold’s American owners. The local community will be left with a polluted site. This will take years to clean up. Given experiences elsewhere, that may be impossible.