Protesters call off blockade at Whitegate oil refinery

Protesters called off the Whitegate oil refinery blockade after 5pm on Saturday out of concern for the safety of local Whitegate residents.

Protest organiser Anthony Kelleher said that people not linked to his group had descended on the protest site on Saturday and there were concerns about their behaviour, believing their motivation was "to cause trouble" rather than to call for political change.

"It was suggested to us that local people's properties could be vandalised, painted, burned, destroyed," he said.

"We had not planned to leave this evening but we decided enough was enough when we heard that.

"Residents at Whitegate had been so good to us, offering us beds, bringing us food and drinks.

"We always wanted this to be peaceful," he told The Echo.

Mr Kelleher packed his truck with leftover donated food and drinks and will bring it the charity Cork Penny Dinners.

Three people were arrested in Whitegate for public order offences, he said.

Mr Kelleher and his fellow protesters had a positive and respectful relationship with gardaí throughout the blockade, he said.

"Gardaí shook our hands when we were leaving," he said.

Despite news that a support package for hauliers and other sectors is being finalised with the Government, he remained sceptical that it would deliver what he believes is needed.

"This protest was always for everyone, not just truckers. It was for the mum driving her children to school, for the creche worker, the carer having to drive to work. We want things to be better for everyone," he said.

People remain "angry and disappointed" and the protests will continue, he said.

The protesters turned away approximately 12 fuel tankers throughout the blockade, he said. But they never blocked home heating oil, food trucks, chemical deliveries or workers from accessing the refinery, he said.