A blockade outside Ireland’s only oil refinery was abandoned by demonstrators after a dramatic Garda operation amid fears the protest was about to be hijacked by the far right and other elements.
The revelation came as Whitegate protest organisers admitted that a demonstration initially comprised of local hauliers, farmers, contractors and even construction officials attracted “other elements” after the dramatic human chain stand-off with Gardaí on Friday.
Whitegate blockade organisers said the decision to end the protest after the massive Garda enforcement operation on Saturday was taken in the interests of public safety and local welfare.
“This was a peaceful protest from day one,” one organiser, who asked to be unnamed, explained.
“We wanted to get out message across that we couldn’t survive in business with fuel rates going sky high – and we wanted ordinary Irish people to realise the consequences for them of soaring food prices.”
“As far as I am concerned, that message was heard loud and clear. This was never about looking for trouble.
“But there were people who arrived here after Friday who we were afraid did not share our goals.”
Another organiser, Anthony Kelleher, said they ended the demonstration after it was suggested that some people flocking to the protest were allegedly intent on mischief.
“This was a peaceful protest… when we heard that (there was a possible threat to local property) then enough was enough.”
Mr Kelleher said they were “overwhelmed” with the support they received from across Ireland and that the demonstration was all about respect.
He insisted protest organisers had tried to liaise positively with Gardaí at all times.
However, a number of people who arrived in Whitegate on Friday evening and Saturday were not associated with the original demonstration.
Further, there were growing concerns amongst the local protesters that the new arrivals were intent on causing trouble and confronting Gardaí.
A number of known far-right agitators arrived in the east Cork village from Friday – and demonstration organisers were uneasy about their intentions.
Gardaí secured full access to the Irving Oil refinery at lunchtime on Saturday after an overwhelming show of force.
Pepper spray was used on a small number of people who refused to comply with Garda instructions.
Three people were arrested under public order legislation.
Full access to the refinery was secured by Gardaí and by Saturday afternoon fleets of tankers had commenced accepting fuel loads.
A large Garda presence remained in Whitegate but there were no other attempts to interfere with the movement of fuel tankers.
Over 100 Garda – including several public order units from across Ireland – deployed in Whitegate where attempts to end the blockade on Friday failed after demonstrators placed a human chain across the village’s main street.
A direction to the crowd was read out by a senior Garda and public order units then pushed demonstrators back from the route to be used by fuel tankers.
One driver who refused to comply with Garda directions was forcibly removed from his cab.
Two other drivers agreed to hand over the keys of their vehicles to Gardaí so they could be moved them without damage.
A water cannon used to deal with public disorder was available to Gardaí though it was not deployed.
The Defence Forces deployed a heavy duty recovery vehicle but again it was not required.
Attempts to use the so-called “hot route” secured to the refinery by Gardaí to access diesel for emergency services last Friday was frustrated by protestors creating a human chain blockade in the village.
This prevented an oil lorry from passing through Garda lines and it was stranded in the middle of the village for several hours.
At one point a protestor holding a Tricolour climbed on top of the tanker.
Protestors first blocked the entrance to the Irving Oil facility on Wednesday.
The major standoff erupted at 2.30pm on Friday after protestors outside the Cork refinery had allowed a limited number of tankers to refill at the facility in support of emergency services.
A group of around 300 then formed a human chain across the Main Street of Whitegate village to block a third tanker from reaching the refinery access route which had been secured by Gardaí.
Facing the protestors was a line of 50 uniformed Gardai who were metres in front of the stranded tanker.
The human chain was mounted minutes after it was confirmed that protestor representatives were not allowed into negotiations with Government officials.
Major Garda public order units withdrew on Friday evening and protestors moved back to their initial machinery blockade outside the refinery which allowed the village’s Main Street to re-open.
However, a massive Garda public order operation began on Saturday morning to re-open access to the refinery – with over 100 officers deployed and all routes into Whitegate being monitored.
Garda reinforcements were brought by bus to east Cork from all over Munster.
Taoiseach Michael Martin slated the blockade of the refinery as ‘an outage’ and ‘national sabotage.’
Ralph Riegel