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Blockades cleared after major garda operations

Tractors and trucks are pictured leaving Dublin’s O’Connell Street after a Garda operation
A convoy of tractors and trucks left Dublin's O'Connell Street this morning

Hundreds of gardaí were involved in operations in Dublin and Galway to remove blockades on O'Connell Street in the capital and at Galway port earlier today.

Protests in Foynes and at Rosslare Europort were stood down during the day - but delays remained on several of the country's busiest roads due to ongoing action elsewhere.

Protest traffic at Kill Co Kildare
Traffic at Kill in Co Kildare

Dublin's O'Connell Street is expected to fully reopen in the coming hours after a major garda operation to remove the blockade.

Overnight, hundreds of gardaí were involved in the removal of people and vehicles from the capital's main thoroughfare, but it passed off without incident.

Just after 3.30am, the main street and the roads surrounding it were locked down by around 200 uniformed gardaí.

The Public Order Unit then moved in, in significant numbers, supported on the ground by the garda mounted unit, the garda helicopter hovering overhead, and the garda water unit patrolling the River Liffey below.

Protesters and members of public were directed to leave, and they did so quickly and peacefully, gradually returning to their vehicles before driving away under garda escort.

As day broke over Dublin, a small number were still parked on O'Connell Street, but all were cleared before lunchtime, meaning that gardaí did not have to call for the assistance of the Defence Forces.

As day broke over Dublin a small number were still parked on O'Connell Street but all were cleared before lunchtime meaning that Gardai did not have to call for the assistance of the Defence Forces to move them
The top of Dublin's O'Connell Street and O'Connell Bridge at dawn

Participants - largely led by hauliers, farmers, and agricultural workers - began separate but co-ordinated action on Tuesday with slow-moving convoys and outright stoppages on major motorways, as well as blockades of critical infrastructure.

Superintendent Jarlath Lennon of Store Street Station said the past six days have been difficult and not pleasant, but that things had concluded successfully and that restrictions around O'Connell Street would be gradually lifted throughout today.

He told RTÉ News: "It has been a very difficult week I have to say, it's not pleasant and it has been very difficult in terms of our national infrastructure being blockaded for that number of days.

"Having the graduated response was something that we had to balance in terms of risk of people's safety and I think over the past number of hours we've had a very, very successful conclusion to what happened over here in the last number of days."

Superintendent Jarlath Lennon of Store Street Station
Superintendent Jarlath Lennon of Store Street Station

By mid-morning, organisers confirmed their blockade of O'Connell Street was over, but said their protest is not.

Agricultural contractor and spokesperson for the protest James Geoghegan said people were going home to rest and regroup, but did not rule out a return to O'Connell Street.

He said: "Lads can go home and regroup. A lot of lads want to go home and take maybe a day's rest and come back out because until the issues are solved, the protest doesn't end.

"There's no backing down until there is agreement made on the whole issue of the protest."

agricultural Contractor and spokesperson for the protest James Geoghegan
Agricultural contractor and spokesperson for the protest James Geoghegan said the protest is not over

Restrictions to Luas, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann services are continuing, but are expected to be lifted in time for the return to schools and work after the Easter holiday period tomorrow.

The blockade of O'Connell Street was a striking symbol of the chaos fuel protests caused throughout the country over the past six days.

With less than 12 weeks to go until Ireland takes over the Presidency of the EU, gardaí and the Government will be keen to ensure there is no repeat of this almost week-long takeover of the capital's main thoroughfare.


Watch: Tractors and trucks leave Dublin's O'Connell Street


Elsewhere in Dublin, gardaí also cleared the blockade of the M50 northbound.

Speaking about the overnight garda operation on O'Connell Street, protest spokesman Christopher Duffy said he was "upset", "disappointed" and "angry".

"Nobody in the city of Dublin or the country could say our assembly was anything but peaceful," he added.

Mr Duffy said he believed protesters were denied due process, adding: "We got absolutely ambushed here last night by what I can only describe as an army of (public order gardaí).

He said: "At this point, we're pulling out of O'Connell Street because we have been threatened with - I don't know the law, section 8 on the vehicles - if we don't get out by a certain time they're threatening to tow the vehicles on us.

"These vehicles are very expensive with automatic transmissions and everything, and if they drag them with the engine not on they could wreck them.

"So we have no choice, financially we have to move the vehicles."

He called for rural TDs and independents "propping up the Government" to call a motion of no confidence in the coalition.

Asked if the overall protests are now over, he said: "I don't think so."


Watch: Gardaí begin operation at O'Connell Street protest


Meanwhile, the blockade at Galway Port, which began on Tuesday, has ended.

The demonstrators formed a barricade on the bridge leading to the port terminal this morning.

Last night, the Jack Lynch Tunnel in Co Cork was partially blocked by fuel protesters.

The tunnel fully reopened after around ten tractors stopped inside the northbound bore, reducing it to one lane.

And the blockade at the fuel depot at Foynes Port in Co Limerick ended this afternoon.

Protesters in a motorcade of trucks and tractors were led by a group of bikers from the entrance to the port at lunchtime today.

The group of protesters that had been there since Tuesday said they took a vote this morning and decided to end their protest.

 The blockade at the fuel depot at Foynes Port has ended.
The blockade at the fuel depot at Foynes Port has ended

Gardaí cleared a blockade of the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork around lunchtime yesterday and vowed to implement further enhanced enforcement actions.

It saw physical clashes between protesters and gardaí, who used pepper spray during the hour-long operation which resecured access for fuel trucks.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly had vowed to step up enforcement against fuel-cost protesters "endangering the State" by blocking critical infrastructure.

Commissioner Kelly said the blockades of critical infrastructure "resulted in fuel shortages that are directly impacting on emergency services such as hospitals, the ambulance service and the fire service, as well as businesses and the general public".


Read more:
Live: Updates as they happen

Full restoration of fuel supply could take ten days - Fuels for Ireland
Bridge to Galway Port being secured as demonstration over
Cabinet to hold emergency meeting on sixth day of fuel protests


A small number of Defence Forces personnel with heavy-lift recovery trucks had been on standby to assist gardaí with moving large vehicles if needed.

Meanwhile, police in Northern Ireland said they were "maintaining an ongoing assessment" in relation to social media posts calling for similar planned protests there.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: "A policing response has been prepared, if needed, to ensure public safety and to help minimise any potential disruption to the wider community."

Additional reporting PA