Man, 20, due in court after arrest amid fuel protests near Whitegate refinery

A man is due before Midleton District Court on Thursday accused of driving a tractor erratically and being pursued by gardaí with blue lights and sirens during the fuel protests in East Cork last weekend.

The man, aged in his 20s, allegedly drove a tractor and slurry tank through a Garda checkpoint 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.

The Garda blockade near the Whitegate oil refinery where the man was arrested was a focal point of the fuel protests. It is understood the man was attempting to join the blockade.

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

"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.

"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 plain-clothes gardaí in marked and unmarked patrol cars," the stated.

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