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Thu 01 Jan 2007Shell denies it let pipeline protesters languish in prisonShell E&P Ireland has rejected claims that it allowed five Rossport men to languish in prison for several weeks in 2005 after the company had agreed to cease work on its controversial onshore gas pipeline pending the outcome of a safety review by the Minister for the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.Counsel for Shell Patrick Hanratty told the High Court yesterday such a suggestion was "grossly unfair". Shell had nothing to do with the amount of time the men spent in prison or the fact they were there at all, he said.