Fines issued after fuel protests across NI disrupt traffic

People have been given fines and others cautioned for public order offences after fuel protests caused traffic disruption across Northern Ireland.

Fuel costs have soared globally as a result of the US-Israel war with Iran.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it carried out a policing operation on Tuesday to deal with slow-moving vehicle demonstrations at the Sydenham Bypass, Westlink, M2, A1, A4, A5 and at a blockade of the A6 at Toome.

Ch Supt Norman Haslett said the PSNI will be reviewing footage taken during the operation in order to consider further prosecution for any potential offences.

Up to 40 tractors and trucks are still involved in a moving convoy between the Ballygawley roundabout and the A4 Enniskillen roundabout on Tuesday night.

Traffic is flowing through both roundabouts, just at a slow pace.

The vehicles involved, including tractors, lorries and slurry tankers, are occasionally honking their horns as a handful of bystanders watch on.

Farmers say they are being hit on several fronts, with the price of fuel and fertiliser all facing a hike.

Farmer Dermot O'Donnell, who was at the protest in Ballygawley, said he wants fuel prices lowered and called for more people to come out and support them.

"Even the police are trying to get us away from a civil protest, it just goes to show you how much the country has flipped," he said.

"If we all stick together we might get something down, the price of diesel or something will come down which might help everybody."

Farmer Stephen McKeown, who was also at the protest in Ballygawley, said he would rather be at home working but felt he had to take a stand.

"We are sick and tired of the cost of everything at the present time," he said.

"I don't mind paying tax but I really do detest when my money is being spent very foolishly."

He hoped Stormont would see how unhappy people were with spiralling costs, and "spend money more wisely".

On social media First Minister Michelle O'Neill called on Sir Keir Starmer to act.

"Over half of what people pay at the pump is tax," she said.

"Only the British government has the power to cut this tax, but Keir Starmer is choosing not to act."

Earlier, there was a slow-moving convoy of tractors on the Sydenham bypass in both directions, but the road later cleared.

Some passengers who were heading to Belfast City Airport could be seen pulling their luggage by the side of the road.

Farmer Sam Hanna was among those taking part in the protest there.

He apologised for any disruption but said "we're doing it for them".

"It's not just for the farmer, it's for the ordinary housewife going in and getting her shopping, putting £20 or £40 or diesel or petrol into her car," he said.

"Fuel is not really that dear if you take the tax off it. We have money for everything else – we can spend overseas, we can help people coming to this country, we can't help our own people."

In a PSNI statement, Ch Supt Haslett said the policing operation was designed to "minimise disruption" to the road network and to "prevent escalation and prolonged disruption".

"The right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are fundamental human rights which are protected in law and allow individuals to engage in peaceful protest.

"However, these rights are balanced by the need to uphold the rights of others, protect public health and safety, minimise disruption to normal life and by the need to prevent and detect crime," he added.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, who has responsibility for Northern Ireland's road network, said the protests were indicative of "frustration" over increasing costs.

"People feel like they're pinned to their collars here with the rising fuel prices," she told the BBC's Evening Extra programme.

"It's having an impact on their ability to do their jobs, to put food on their tables, to put food on all of our tables actually."

Asked what action she was taking, Kimmins said she froze fares on public transport and ministers were looking across executive departments to see if they could do anything else to help consumers.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt urged people not to block roads and to let healthcare workers reach their patients, adding that "disruption threatens life".

Demonstrators in the Republic of Ireland had been blocking fuel depots and motorways for nearly a week.

Organisers in Northern Ireland say they are standing in solidarity with those across the border where hundreds of petrol stations are without fuel because of the protests.

Dozens of vehicles took part in a slow-moving convoy in Strabane, County Tyrone, on Saturday.

Some 20% of the world's oil trade, the raw ingredient for producing both petrol and diesel, has been halted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

In Northern Ireland, petrol increased from 124.8p litre on 26 February to 153.1p litre on Thursday, while diesel prices have gone from 132.6p litre to 185.6p litre, according to the Consumer Council.

The conflict in the Middle East has seen household energy and food bills rise, with businesses also feeling the pinch.

The managing director of Lynas Foodservice in Coleraine, County Londonderry, told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme his fuel bill has jumped by about £20,000 a week.

The first and deputy first minister have sent a joint letter to the prime minister calling for the government to intervene on rising costs.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said he did not want to see any disruption to emergency services or medical appointments as a result of fuel protests.

"In Dublin the protests were targeted at a government who have levers at their disposal," he said.

"Whilst I understand and support people's right to protest, it is important to reflect at this stage that I don't think we would benefit from widespread disruption."

Although blockades at fuel depots and Ireland's only oil refinery have been lifted, slow-moving convoys of large vehicles continued on motorways around Dublin on Monday morning.

On Sunday, the Irish government announced a €505m (£440m) package to support those most affected by rising fuel costs. It comes on top of measures worth €250m which were announced almost three weeks ago.