Hundreds of gardai clear O'Connell Street blockade at 3.30am as new poll reveals what the public really think of fuel protests

"Hundreds of gardaí have formed an effective ring of steel around the city centre. Protesters did not resist the move to free up the country's main thoroughfare."

"A garda helicopter hovered over the city centre as hundreds of officers arrived onto the country's main thoroughfare from the northside just after 3.30am."

Gardaí formed a strong presence around Dublin's city center to clear protesters from O'Connell Street. The operation involved various units, including public order, mounted, and water units. A helicopter monitored the situation as hundreds of officers arrived early in the morning. The government faced blame from the public for the chaos experienced over the past week, prompting an emergency Cabinet meeting as the fuel shortage continued to escalate.

Read at Independent