Cork's Whitegate refinery blockade continues; protesters gather as Taoiseach due in Macroom

Demonstrators maintain overnight blockade at Whitegate refinery, warning of wider supply impacts and calling for Government action on fuel costs

Up to 70 people have gathered outside the Irving Oil Refinery in Whitegate since this morning, with protestors pledging to stand strong despite 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 there is potential for participants to receive parking fines as a result of the blockade, however this has not been confirmed by gardaí.

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 protestors to immediately cease blockades of such critical infrastructure or face the full rigours of the law.”

Protesters blockading the bypass in Macroom, where the Taoiseach is due today, have vowed to remain there for “as long as it takes”.

Ahead of his arrival messages were sent on Whatsapp last night urging that his exit from the town be blocked.

Whitegate and Port of Cork

Access to the Port of Cork facilities at Ringaskiddy is currently restricted due to the ongoing national protest, a statement from the port said this morning.

"Organisers have indicated that the blockade may be lifted at 11:00am today, with the potential of a further blockade anticipated this afternoon.

"This remains a developing situation and we are in close contact with organisers and An Garda Siochana," the statement said.

"While access to port facilities is being affected by external disruption, customers, staff and port users' safety remains our top priority. We appreciate your understanding and patience."

The Taoiseach confirmed on RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the Defence Forces had been asked to clear entrances to key infrastructure facilities.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner at Whitegate, 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.

Macroom

More than 100 people were gathered on the Macroom road just after 9am, with more than 60 trucks, tractors, lorries and cars blocking the road from the city side, with traffic diverted through the town.

They heard repeated calls from organisers to remain peaceful throughout the protest, and claims that “Government bots” would try to stir up violence.

An ambulance was let through earlier in the morning, and a garda car was parked at the city side of the bypass.

One organiser instructed the crowd – mostly men wearing orange or yellow hi-vis bibs - that they have to maintain the high ground, adding that “whoever breaks the peace first loses this”.

He claimed that the Government is “ready to fall” and it wouldn’t take much to topple it.

“Lads, I would plead with ye to remain peaceful, we are peaceful people, we are working people and we’re protesting peacefully, and the public is on our side, as long as we remain peaceful we have the upper hand,” he said.

“We are here for the long haul and we will stay here as long as it takes, we have people ready to take our place if any of us have to leave, there is no problem with numbers.” 

Protestors said Taoiseach Micheál Martin's description of the blockade of the Whitegate oil refinery as an act of “national sabotage”, was "borderline unconstitutional".

“Micheál Martin did us the greatest favour of all time saying what he said about us, and this Government is ready to fall because of it,” one organiser claimed.

Protesters in Macroom heard that those blockading the Whitegate refinery would stand their ground but would not rise to provocation “if the army goes in”, as they were “fellas with cool heads”.