Gardaí call for protesters to cease fuel protest blockades

Gardaí have called for protesters to cease blockades being carried out as part of the nationwide fuel protests.

Now in day three, the protests organised by the 'People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest' group began on Tuesday, April 7.

The protests were condemned as "wrong" by Taoiseach Michael Martin in a government press conference held yesterday (Wednesday).

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.

"Despite our 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.

"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."