Rumours are swirling around Galway this evening that Gardaí are planning a major operation at 3am to clear the ongoing fuel protest at the harbour.
Locals on community WhatsApp groups claim a large contingent of officers, including public order units, will move in under cover of darkness to break the blockade at the fuel depot in Galway Harbour Enterprise Park.
It cannot be substantiated, however, a retired garda told The Liberal that this is likely how such an operation would be undertaken.
Word on the street suggests the timing is deliberate, aiming to catch protesters off guard while numbers are thinner during the early hours. Many in the city believe Gardaí have been building up resources in recent days as fuel shortages worsen across the west, with stations running dry and a tanker still waiting offshore.
Talk among residents near the docks points to frustration on both sides, with some fearing clashes if the rumoured dawn raid goes ahead.
A large garda presence is now on site as tensions remain extremely high. Protests nationwide have now gripped the protest for days, as farmers, hauliers and locals stand firm against rising fuel costs.
Whether the 3am move materialises or not, the whispers reflect growing anxiety in Galway over how the standoff at the harbour will end. The city waits and watches as the night unfolds.
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