Fuel protest at Rosslare Europort stood down

Sarah Slater

The fuel protest and blockade at Rosslare Europort has come to an end after organisers say their decision was “not made lightly”.

Protestors have been at Kilrane village which leads in and out of the harbour area since 6am on Thursday causing hundreds of trucks to be blocked both entering and leaving the busy port.

Jack O’Donoghue one of the organisers of the protest at the Europort in a statement online explained that with threats of escalation coming, the decision has been made to “end our protest peacefully”.

O’Donoghue outlined that the “community has spent four days coming together and supporting the national fuel protests".

“This decision to end peacefully was not made lightly, but we will not be shown to be thugs or bandits. This protest was held by a community, supported by a community, fed by a community and we will not be tarnished with the threat of escalation.”

The Kilrane based man said it was decided that “together, we would peacefully walk out, a peaceful end to a peaceful protes".

“The Rosslare Harbour Community has been fantastic! To all who have been involved and supported us through the wind and the rain, I can honestly say my heart bursts with pride.

“Thank you so much to all of you, to the brave men and women, the few have made their voices heard and you should be proud of yourselves. We will not be defeated, but we will stand strong as a community. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all," O’Donoghue added.

He said the next steps will be taken to Wexford County Council and the Dáil.

Since Thursday trucks hauling non-essential goods were not allowed to enter or exit the port. All pharmaceutical, food supplies, refrigerated trucks and private travellers were permitted to access and leave the port.

A Garda spokesman in Rosslare said that protestors were ending their blockade “in the right way - peacefully”.

In an online video, the g=Garda spokesperson can be seen addressing the protestors saying: “Noone got hurt. We didn’t have to bring public order units in here. You (protestors) made your point, you brought it as far as it can go. Ending it right is as important as starting it right.”

Local Aontú councillor Jim Codd said the peaceful protest was conducted“impeccably by people from the beginning. The people of Ireland have spoken”.