Gardaí Secure Access to Whitegate Refinery in Morning Operation
Gardaí confirm access to Whitegate Refinery has been secured following a morning operation. No disorder and no arrests were made.
Protesters at the Whitegate Oil Refinery in Cork have allowed one empty tanker into the site to fill-up with white diesel. That tanker will then be allowed leave the site to provide fuel for emergency service vehicles, crucially the ambulance and fire services. #fuelprotest
— Emergency Times (@emergencytimes) April 10, 2026
An Garda Síochána has confirmed that access to the Whitegate Refinery, designated as a National Critical Infrastructure site, has been secured following an operation this morning.
Gardaí confirmed there was no disorder during the operation and no arrests were made.
An Garda Síochána said it:
"Has and continues to engage extensively with those taking part in fuel protests across the country to facilitate peaceful protest while protecting public safety."
Gardaí said they continue to operate on the basis of the 4Es framework: Engage, Explain, Encourage and Enforce.
The refinery, operated by Irving Oil in east Cork, is the only oil refinery on the island of Ireland and supplies approximately one third of the country's fuel. Protesters had been restricting access to the site since Wednesday evening as part of the ongoing nationwide fuel price protests, now in their fourth day.
Earlier this morning, more than 20 Garda vehicles, including public order units, had taken up position on the access road to the facility.
This is a developing story. Cork Safety Alerts will provide updates as the situation progresses.
