Protesters ‘manipulated by outside actors’ like Tommy Robinson, says O’Callaghan

Fuel protesters are being “manipulated” by “outside actors”, the Irish Minister for Justice has said.

Speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon, Jim O’Callaghan said: “When you look online at present, you can see that many outside actors are seeking to manipulate these people for their own purposes.”

He added that British right-wing activist Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was “referring to and relying upon these protests to advance his own political measures”.

Roads and fuel depots across Ireland have been blockaded by demonstrations against the rising cost of fuel since Tuesday morning.

Earlier on Thursday, the Government said the army would be called in to remove heavy vehicles blocking critical infastructure.

Mr O’Callaghan told reporters: “The protests have gone on too long. People have made their point. Government has heard their point.

“They’re now being manipulated by outside actors who really want to damage Ireland as a country, and they should recognise that.”

Asked if it was unfair to link comments made by Robinson with the demonstrators, Mr O’Callaghan said: “All I can tell you is Tommy Robinson, who has a big coverage and following online, is relying on referring to these protests, and I know the overwhelming majority of people protesting do not want to see themselves manipulated by people like Tommy Robinson.”

The minister said people on the protest lines had “lost control” and needed to “recognise the damage they’re inflicting on this country”.

He “welcomed” that protesters at the fuel terminal in Foynes in Limerick “have recognised the importance of allowing chemicals out of Foynes for the purpose of ensuring we have clean water”.

Asked if protesters would face legal consequences, he replied “there, of course, are going to be legal consequences”.

“They might not arise today or tomorrow, but people have licences to drive vehicles, those licences will be affected.

“In terms of insurance, any insurance coverage, I suspect, will be void as a result of the owner of the equipment deciding to voluntarily get involved in such illegal activity.”

Responding to criticism from opposition parties that bringing in the Defence Forces would escalate the situation, Mr O’Callaghan said it was “obviously it’s a very careful matter that was considered across Government”.

The Government is considering its response to rising fuel prices on an “ongoing basis”, he said, but “the country can’t be held to ransom by a group of unelected people”.

He said: “We live in a democracy where we can’t have a situation where if somebody goes out and does something unlawful or blockades a critical piece of infrastructure, that immediately government says, ‘OK, I’m going to respond to you, and we’re going to give you what you want’.”