⛽ Fuel Protests, Disruption & Missed Commitments – What Are Your Rights?

With the ongoing fuel protests across Ireland (we heard it's about to happen in the UK and possibly France too), many people are being affected in ways they didn’t expect:

– unable to get to work

– missed flights or holidays

– cancelled appointments

– delayed deliveries and services

Naturally, the question is:

👉 Am I still liable if I couldn’t fulfil my obligations?

💡 You may have heard the term “force majeure”.

In simple terms, this refers to an event outside your control that prevents you from fulfilling a contract. Another example is an outbreak and an act of war.

This is a clause often found in contracts to cater for an event outside of everyone's control....some contracts have them but some don't....

⚖️ Key point

Force majeure only applies if:

– your contract actually includes a "force majeure" clause

– the situation falls within what that clause covers

– the event genuinely prevented performance (not just made things more difficult)

💬 Some real-world examples:

Missing a flight due to fuel shortages → unlikely to trigger force majeure against the airline

Unable to attend work → depends on your employment contract and specific circumstances

A business unable to deliver goods → may rely on force majeure if properly drafted into the contract

⚠️ Important

Force majeure does not simply mean “I couldn’t do it, so I’m not responsible”....

It is a contractual protection, not a general legal right.

If there is no clause, the situation becomes more complex and may involve legal principles like frustration (which is much harder to rely on).

💡 Practical steps if you’re affected:

Check your contract terms
Notify the other party as soon as possible
Keep evidence of what prevented performance
Try to minimise the impact where you can

Situations like this are exactly where taking early, structured steps can prevent a dispute from escalating.

⚖️ What if your contract can’t be fulfilled due to fuel disruption or an act of war?

If your contract includes a force majeure clause, this may allow the parties to temporarily suspend their obligations until the situation improves ⏳

However, if the disruption continues and there is no clear end in sight, you may be able to argue that the contract has been “frustrated”.

👉 This means the contract effectively comes to an end, and you may be entitled to a refund 💷

⚠️ Be aware:

The other party may not agree straight away and could resist your request. They may say the clause is too vague but if there is any ambiguity in a situation like this, the court may construe the clause in your favour as the aggrieved party....

💡 If the other party refuses to help, taking a structured and firm approach is key.

We can provide a template letter to help you:

✔️ set out your legal position clearly

✔️ request a refund properly

✔️ strengthen your chances of recovery with proven techniques

Situations like this are where knowing how to respond early can make all the difference 👍

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