Cork tractor driver arrested at Whitegate fuel protest charged

Gardai said a man in his 20s, arrested at Whitegate, was charged with a number of offences (PA)

The driver of a tractor and slurry tank who was arrested at Whitegate, Co Cork, has been charged with a number of serious road traffic offences, gardaí have said.

The Whitegate oil refinery was the site of a blockade during fuel protests over the last week, which was cleared by gardaí on Saturday.

Gardaí said a tractor with a slurry tank approached a cordon checkpoint shortly after 2pm on Saturday.

They said the vehicle was directed to stop by Garda members, but continued on.

Gardaí activated blue lights and sirens and pursued the tractor, which they say started “driving erratically, swerving into the opposite direction in an effort to get away from gardaí and endangering other road users”.

They said the tractor was stopped by uniform and plainclothes officers in marked and unmarked patrol cars and the driver, a man in his 20s, was arrested.