Fuel price protests due to take place in different parts of Northern Ireland look set to be something of a damp squib.
The social media-driven protest plans are being monitored by the PSNI, and follow on from limited protest events which took place at the weekend. But these produced a disappointing turnout. A planned protest in Derry failed to materialise, while others in Enniskillen and Strabane drew only a small number of protestors and vehicles.
Possible protest sites tomorrow (Tuesday) include Larne Harbour, the Sandyknowes Roundabout, Nutt’s Corner, the Sprucefield junction and, crucially the Westlink. Other potential locations are Toomebridge, the Ballygawley Roundabout and the A5 outside Omagh.
The planned protests, like those in the Republic, are in response to rapidly rising fuel costs. But, in advance of any protests, there has already been fierce criticism of those who plan to protest by disrupting supply routes even further.
South of the border, the fuel protests look to be losing momentum. Today (Monday), all major routes in the Republic were reported to be clear.