Man due in court after alleged tractor chase during Cork fuel protests

Man in his 20s faces charges after alleged tractor pursuit near Whitegate during fuel protest in east Cork

Tractors blocking the main road of the village at Whitegate on Saturday. File picture: Larry Cummins

A man who allegedly drove a tractor erratically, swerving on the road as gardaí pursued him with blue lights and sirens, in East Cork during the fuel protest, is due before Midleton District Court on Thursday.

The man, aged in his 20s, allegedly drove a tractor and slurry tank through a garda checkpoint during the fuel protest in east Cork on Saturday. Gardaí pursued the vehicle before it stopped at a checkpoint near the Whitegate Oil Refinery.

He was arrested and charged with serious road traffic offences.

Crowds are expected outside Midleton courthouse on Thursday as calls circulate on social media for people to attend in support of the man.

He was arrested at a garda blockade near the Whitegate oil refinery, a focal point of the fuel protests, on Saturday. The man was attempting to join the blockade, it is understood.

“Shortly after 2pm on Saturday 11th April, 2026, Gardaí observed a tractor and slurry tank combination approaching a cordon checkpoint on the approach to Whitegate, Co. Cork,” a garda statement says.

"The vehicle failed to stop at the checkpoint when directed by members of An Garda Síochána."

Gardaí then pursued the tractor combination, activating emergency blue lights and sirens indicating the vehicle to stop and warning other road users, gardaí said.

"The tractor began driving erratically, swerving into the opposite direction in an effort to get away from Gardaí and endangering other road users.

"The vehicle was stopped by uniform and plainclothes Gardaí in marked and unmarked patrol cars," the statement says.

"The driver, a male in his 20s, was arrested."