Irish police push back fuel-price protesters blocking country’s only oil refinery – POLITICO

DUBLIN — Police pepper-sprayed protesters Saturday as soldiers deployed heavy-lifting equipment to remove trucks and tractors that had been blocking access to Ireland’s only oil refinery.

Irish security forces launched the crackdown outside the Whitegate refinery in County Cork, the country’s primary hub for petrol and diesel, after several hundred fuel stations nationwide ran dry amid panic-buying.

Farmers and hauliers had been blocking tankers from entering or leaving the Whitegate plant since Wednesday in protest against the surging price of motor fuel. They are demanding that the government slash its taxes on fuel, which account for more than 60 percent of the retail price.