Fuel price protests bring parts of Dublin to standstill

by · UPI

April 10 (UPI) -- Protests against high gas prices brought parts of Dublin, Ireland, to a standstill, causing the number of service stations without any fuel to rise to 100 on Friday, local officials said.

Demonstrators in vehicles -- including tractors -- took part in slow-moving convoys and blocked roads throughout the capital city to protest the high fuel prices caused by the United States and Israel's war on Iran, the BBC reported. The protesters were also blocking ports where oil shipments arrive, fuel depots and the only fuel refinery in Cork.

RTÉ reported that plenty of fuel was available in the country, but with the blockades, much of it can't get to the service stations where it's needed.

Taoiseach Mícheál Martin told RTÉ the country was on the verge of having to turn away oil deliveries due to the demonstrations.

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"It's unconscionable, it's illogical," he said.

Friday was the fourth consecutive day of protests, The Guardian reported.

Kevin McPartlan, the CEO for Fuels for Ireland, said the number of gas stations without fuel could increase to 500 by Friday evening if blockades weren't resolved.

The Irish government said it put the army on standby to disperse the protests if need be. Police told those who fail defy orders could face arrest.

An Garda Síochána, Ireland's national police, said the blockades could disrupt the transportation of necessary goods, including food, fuel, water and animal feed.

"This is not tolerable and is against the law," the agency said.

One participant, Kildare farmer John Dallon, told the BBC the protests could go on for weeks.

"Maybe for another week, maybe two weeks. If it takes a month, we are prepared to sit here."

Similar demonstrations spread to Norway, with truck drivers there participating in an effort they're calling "diesel roar" in Oslo.

Global oil prices were down slightly Friday compared to Monday, when it reached a high of $112 per barrel. The benchmark Brent crude price was $96.99 a barrel midday Friday, up from $67.02 the day before the war in Iran began Feb. 28, a roughly 45% increase.