Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has returned from holiday to take charge of the national policing response to the fuel protest crisis. The Irish Examiner understands the garda boss had gone on a pre-booked holiday with his family before the protests began. The approach of An Garda Síochána from the outset has been to adopt a low key response, focusing on local gardaí engaging with local protestors and their leaders. “This is about your local gardaí talking to local people protesting and trying to develop a relationship and keep the dialogue open,” a senior garda source said. “It’s Munster and the West being hardest hit, at the moment,” one senior source said.

Source: Irish Examiner April 10, 2026 20:53 UTC