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Fuel protesters say they felt ‘ambushed’ by police during late-night operation
Gardai cleared major fuel protest blockades across Ireland overnight, including O'Connell Street in Dublin. Dublin protest spokesman Christopher Duffy claimed protesters were "ambushed" by an "army" of public order police.
Hauliers, farmers, and agricultural workers began coordinated action on Tuesday, staging blockades and slow-moving convoys to protest unsustainable fuel costs. Over six consecutive days, participants demanded urgent Government action to prevent businesses from failing.
Fuels for Ireland chief executive Kevin McPartlan warned that fuel distribution will "still take 10 days to recover" to normal levels. He estimated up to two-thirds of the country's 1,500 filling stations could have run dry by Sunday morning.
Irish Road Haulage Association president Ger Hyland said there were "the bones of an agreement" with the Irish Government regarding a "substantial package" of fuel support. The Cabinet is scheduled to meet at 4pm on Sunday to finalize measures.
While blockades largely wound down by midday on Sunday, Ireland's largest opposition party Sinn Fein announced it would call a motion of no confidence in the Government. Gardai confirmed blockades on the M50 at junctions five and seven were cleared.