Limerick motorists to face further disruption as day three of fuel protests begin

Commuters in Limerick are once again facing severe disruptions as day three of protests take place due to the Government’s response to rising fuel prices. 

This comes following confirmation that the Defence Forces will be deployed to move vehicles which are blocking “critical infrastructure,” according to the Department of Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan. There is also stress on Limerick roads where there are no protests due to the back-ups. 

Currently, the fuel depot in Foynes has been blocked by protestors. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, April 9, Fuels for Ireland CEO Kevin McPartlan warned that 50% of homes and businesses in Ireland will not have access to fuel if the blockade of depots continues. 

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A depot in Galway as well as a Cork Oil Refinery have also been blocked since the protests began on Tuesday. 

The People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest organisers said on social media that “this will continue until the Government listen to the people of Ireland.” They further confirmed that the routes they will be taking today include Beary’s Cross, Daly’s Cross, Croom and Bunratty Village feeding into the rolling route from J29 M7 to J2 N18. Road users can expect severe congestion. 

As well as this, further closures have been reported on the M7 between Junction 2 Dock Road and Junction 29 Ballysimon Road. 

Speaking today, Deputy Commissioner, Policing Operations, Shawna Coxon said: “Over the last two days, An Garda Síochána has engaged extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety.

“In line with our tradition of policing by consent, An Garda Síochána has been operating on the basis of the 4Es – Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce.

“Yesterday, we advised protestors that they were severely impacting on the lives of people, particularly emergency workers, those who need to attend hospital and workers.”

She said that despite significant and prolonged engagement, which has included explaining and encouraging protestors to facilitate free movement of traffic, it is clear that some people have “significantly escalated an already difficult situation by targeting critical infrastructure such as fuel depots and refineries.”

According to Coxon: “These are no longer protests, they are blockades.

“These blockades are putting at risk supplies of food, fuel, clean water and animal feed. These are critical for the nation and its people. 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. 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,” the statement concluded.