A lorry driver allegedly tried to “ram” a blockade mounted by campaigners at a Scots port who were protesting against scandal-hit P&O Ferries.
Witnesses told how the driver of a 7.5-tonne vehicle forced protesters to step back as he attempted to break through at the Cairnryan Ferry Port.
The man was said to have shouted at activists as his lorry sought to breach their line at the port’s entranc, during the incident, which took place at around 2.55pm on Friday.
Officers have since confirmed that a 61-year-old man has been charged with road traffic offenses.
A witness said: “The protesters arrived at 2pm in two buses. They blockaded everyone from getting in, standing as a wall of people across the entrance.
“One lorry driver tried to ram his way through. He drove at them to try and break the line. He was shouting at the protesters who had to move back. Eventually he stopped and one of the RMT guys went to speak to him.
“The police came over and the driver was led away.”
Around 70 protesters had gathered to block traffic getting through for P&O’s Cairnryan to Larne ferry.
The service running from the Dumfries and Galloway port to North Ireland had been due to leave at 4pm.
Union bosses hailed the blockade as a success with the ferry sailing “half-empty”.
The demonstration was organised by the RMT union in the wake of P&O’s replacement of nearly 800 workers with cheaper agency staff.
The mass sackings sparked an outcry among unions, politicians and the general public.
Before the blockade, the RMT said it “cannot allow the sackings to go unchallenged” and asked passengers not to travel on the ferry.
Demonstrations were also held in Larne on Friday at the other side of the two-hour crossing.
At 2.30pm RMT Scotland tweeted: “RMT and trade union activists are blockading the entrance of Cairnryan port to protest P&O ferries.
“It’s time for P&O to face the consequences for dismissing 800 UK seafarers.
“Nothing in. Nothing out.”
The union later said the blockade had a “huge impact” and the “P&O Ferries ship of shame sailed half-empty”.
Speaking at the blockade, RMT regional organiser Gordon Martin said it was a protest against “bandit capitalists” at P&O. He pledged protestors would return to mount further blockades “on a rolling basis”.
On Tuesday a P&O ferry lost power in the Irish Sea on a crossing from Cairnryan to Larne. Lifeboats and tugs were launched from Larne and Belfast to guide the European Causeway vessel to port.
The drama happened just two days after P&O resumed running two ferries on the route for the first time since announcing the job cuts in March.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police were made aware of a demonstration in Cairnryan at around 2pm on Friday, 29 April, 2022.
“During the protest a 61-year-old man was charged with road traffic offences.
“A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
