Whitegate fuel protest grows as gardaí issue legal warning to demonstrators
Protesters gather at Whitegate oil refinery to protest rising fuel prices. Picture: Noel Sweeney
Up to 70 people have gathered outside the Irving Oil Refinery in Whitegate since this morning, with protesters pledging to stand firm despite a Garda presence.
Attendance at the ongoing blockade outside the oil facility in east Cork continues to grow, with dozens of trucks, tractors, buses, and cars positioned at the gates of the Whitegate refinery.
Two squad cars and four members of An Garda Síochána are present at the protest and have spent more than 30 minutes in discussions with participants.
It is understood that participants could receive parking fines as a result of the blockade; however, this has not been confirmed by Gardaí.
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In a statement issued by An Garda Síochána, a spokesperson said that “this is not tolerable and is against the law”.
“The wilful obstruction of public roads and the movement of vehicles and persons are offences under various statutes, including the Public Order Act and Road Traffic Acts,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of our well-established, graduated policing response in dealing with protests, An Garda Síochána is now moving to an enforcement phase in relation to those impacting on critical infrastructure unless they desist and disperse from these blockades.
“An Garda Síochána is advising protesters to immediately cease blockades of such critical infrastructure or face the full rigours of the law.”
The Taoiseach confirmed on RTÉ's that the Defence Forces had been asked to clear entrances to key infrastructure facilities.
Local farmer Kate Manning said that, due to rising costs, “people won’t be able to survive the next few weeks and months”.
“I’m here to support everyone who is affected by the rising cost of fuel – hauliers, farmers, bus drivers, the people who are literally moving the country,” said Ms Manning.
“I’ve been here now for a couple of hours and I was here last night too.
“I’m affected myself, my tractor has to run and green diesel has gone up an awful amount.
“It’s not fair what's happening to people on the ground – how are farmers meant to sow seeds, how are trucks meant to deliver food – the prices are making it impossible.
“I’m hoping the government will listen to us and will reduce prices as much as possible to make it affordable for people.
“It’s just not right, a lot of people won’t be able to survive the next few weeks and months so it needs to stop.”
Protester Joe Moloney, whose partner is a professional bus driver, said he will “stay here the whole day".
“I’m out here because of the cost of living and the cost of fuel, it’s too much,” said Mr Moloney.
“There are people who can’t afford to fill their oil tanks and fill their cars.
“They need to bring down prices, bring it back to the way it was before Christmas when it was around €1.60 per litre.
“I’ll stay here the whole day, I stand with the people here. They can’t put us all in jail, the prisons are already full.” Aontú councillor Peter O’Donoghue, who was also present at the protest, said “all these people are asking for is for the government to talk and meet with them”.
“It’s significant to see people out here today, there are people from all aspects of society – which is notable, because everyone across the board has been affected by rising costs,” said Mr O’Donoghue.
As protests continue nationwide, there are reports that fuel stations across the country have seen an increase in sales as members of the public move to fuel their vehicles amid concerns about shortages.
In east Cork, stewards are currently directing customers to pumps at the Midleton fuel station, with reports that queues at the station continue to grow.
Earlier, Cobh-based truck driver Jason Barry said protesters “have to make a stand and have to be seen”.
“I came out here last night and there was probably over 100 of us here, but as the morning went on, some people had to head out to work,” said Mr Barry.
“This is affecting everybody not just us, it goes across the board for food, hospitality, hospitals, everything – we genuinely don’t want to be here, but something has to be done.
“People need to know that trucks are what bring food to the shops and all of that’s going to go – it’s going to hit everybody.
“I don’t know if the protest is going to work, I hope it will – but we need more people, we’ve been ringing everyone to try get more bodies down here,” he added.
“We need people to make an appearance even for an hour, we have to make a stand and we have to be seen.
“We don’t want to cause trouble but we’re going to stay here as long as possible and if we get shifted, we’ll only be back again.
“The price of diesel has gone mental, we’re not asking for fuel to go down to 20c a litre, we just want something because it’s impacting all of us.”
Another participant, who has asked to remain anonymous, said up to seven oil trucks have been turned away from the facility in east Cork since last night due to the blockade.
“I joined the protest at about 6pm yesterday, I had to leave and feed my cattle, but I came back and have been here since 10pm,” the participant said.
“Everybody has been taking turns sleeping in trucks and tractors, just to keep the gates manned, and about seven trucks have been turned away.
“It’s having an impact I think, we’re here for the food on the shelves as well, it’s not just about diesel.
“Not getting a reaction from the government is making it worse, we need them to do something for us as a nation.
“The Taoiseach’s comments yesterday actually united us more, a lot of people didn’t agree with what he said and the public outcry has been huge,” he added.
“It’ll show on shelves soon, people will start to see the effects of this in a couple of days – it’s all going to be stopped.”
Another participant, who has also asked to remain anonymous, said the protest is going to have “a serious knock-on effect”.
“I came down here this morning to support everyone," he said.
“I’m off work for a week because the fishing trawlers I work on, which normally land in Ireland to buy green diesel and deliver fish to Spain, are not coming here because they can’t afford it.
“This is all going to have a serious knock-on effect.
“Some people will have to go back to work tomorrow, but we’re going to keep things going,” he added.
“There are people frustrated with us, but it’s short-term pain for long term gain.
“It’s gaining momentum and getting attention and that’s what’s important.”
As protests continue nationwide there are reports that fuel stations across the country have seen an uptake in sales as members of the public move to fuel their vehicles for fear of shortages.
In East Cork, there are currently stewards directing customers to pumps at the Midleton fuel station, with reports that queues at the station continue to grow.
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