Gardaí deployed pepper spray to drive demonstrators back roughly 100 feet during a Saturday operation to dismantle a blockade at Whitegate refinery.
Witnesses and video captured the moment officers surged toward the crowd following a formal dispersal order from an inspector, who cautioned that anyone staying on-site would be arrested.
A force of about 100 officers, including riot specialists from the Public Order Unit, moved in a synchronised line and used pepper spray to clear the area. During the push, several individuals were singled out, pulled from the ranks of the protesters, and taken behind police lines. Once the area was cleared, authorities set up fresh barricades to keep the refinery entrance open and the protesters at a distance.
Two tractors that had been obstructing the site were driven away by officers after the owners gave up their keys. While the initial confrontation involved only police, reinforcements in the form of members of the Defence Forces were also present with a towing vehicle, though this was reportedly not used.
The scene has since quieted down, but a large police detail remains on the scene.
This crackdown follows a government announcement on Thursday authorising Defence Forces support for the Gardaí to clear vehicles blocking infrastructure.
The unrest has caused significant headaches for commuters, with Dublin Bus and Luas services cancelled or diverted, alongside heavy traffic jams on main roads into the city.
Senior Government figures have reacted sharply to the demonstrations, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin characterising the interference with fuel supplies as “national sabotage,” while other officials warned of legal action if essential services continue to be hindered.
The protesters maintain that their actions are a necessary response to the financial strain caused by fuel costs during the ongoing war in Iran, urging the Government to offer further tax cuts to support individuals and businesses.