Convoy of tractors causes traffic disruption in Belfast

By Grainne Ni Aodha, Press Association

A slow-moving convoy of tractors has caused traffic disruption in Belfast as several fuel protests are due to be held in the North.

The traffic disruption took place near Belfast City Airport, hours after the airport warned passengers that there may be traffic issues and to leave more time to travel to the airport.

It comes after similar demonstrations south of the border disrupted fuel supplies, port operations and traffic in Dublin city centre and on motorways for a week.

Although blockades at Ireland’s only oil refinery and elsewhere were cleared at the weekend, smaller protests continued on motorways around Dublin on Monday and a protest is due to be held at Leinster House on Tuesday, to coincide with a confidence vote in the government.

Social media posts have called for similar fuel protests at several locations in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly last week wrote to UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to bring forward a package of support measures for people in the region.

Fuel costs have soared globally as a result of the US-Israel war with Iran.