At the end of 2007, the majority of security guards employed by Shell at the site of the proposed refinery and production pipeline in Mayo on the west coast of Ireland were replaced by operatives from a company called IRMS. These new security guards were mostly ex-military types, who were much more aggressive in dealing with the many protests against the controversial project.

One local man reported that he had spoken to a security guard from IRMS who had served in the South African army, and was using his time in Ireland as a break between trips to work as a private contractor in Iraq. Many of the security men were former members of the British and Irish armies, but some were obviously young men from Ireland who had backgrounds in the security industry, guarding places like construction sites.

Controversy flared when the security guards based at Glengad on the coast insisted on filming people using the beach, including small children.

The attitude of the security to the local people, protesters, and media was extremely poor, with guards refusing to wear identity tags and ordering people around like soldiers. Many people said they felt that the security were far too aggressive and behaved "like and occupying army".

It now transpires that Michael Dwyer frm Tipperary was among the Irish men involved in the security operation.

He went to Bolivia after working for Shell in Mayo, but it is not clear whether he was still under contract with IRMS. He seems to have made connections with extremists and paid mercenaries, in whose company he was gunned down by Bolivian Security forces.

Radio interview discussing Shell security in Glengad :  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2910908529281164847&q=source%3A014811549821168242990&hl=en