Police restore access to key Irish oil refinery after protests

Irish police, with support from the Defence Forces, have forcibly ended a blockade at the Whitegate Refinery in County Cork, allowing fuel tankers to resume operations. Protesters, including farmers and hauliers, had used tractors and slow-moving convoys to cut off access to the site for days, leading to fuel shortages at hundreds of petrol stations nationwide. Pepper spray was deployed as officers removed barriers and cleared demonstrators. Disturbingly, reports of threats and harassment agains