Little-known Offaly bye-law to see petrol and diesel prices cut to 99c a litre

A little-known bye-law discovered in Offaly is still valid and could see the prices of petrol, diesel and oil slashed by more than half their current prices.

Officials have said the tax law was discovered during an archiving project in Tullamore. The old law effectively bans the application of excise duty and other taxes on fuel.

"The law is still valid in Offaly as it was never revoked. Nobody knew it was there but there is a full process before the courts before it can be replaced with our current laws," a spokesperson said.

The discovery means that petrol stations in Offaly must reduce their price per litre of petrol and diesel to under €1. This will be music to the ears of hard-pressed local motorists who have been paying inflated prices more than double that since the US began its war with Iran.

Despite the seemingly good news, locals now fear a rise is 'fuel tourism' with people from other counties travelling to Offaly to fill up their cars before heading back home again, possibly leaving pumps empty for locals.

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One local man filling up at a garage in Tullamore on Wednesday, remarked: "It's brilliant in one way but you're going to have lads from Longford and Laois and all over spinning down here in their bangers to get the cheap fuel. You couldn't be up to those lads and they won't buy anything else in the shop either. They wouldn't spend Christmas."

The disgruntled driver added: "We need to build a wall around Offaly now, or get a few farmers to lob up a bit of fencing to keep them out for the time being. We could end up with people from Tipperary getting their hands on that 99c fuel. Jaysus, we can't be having that. I'd sooner pour the petrol into a ditch than give it to them."

Another local suggested we set up a toll at all Offaly borders, but that "we don't charge them until they're on the way out."

The man said: "That would soften their cough. Imagine them now driving for home delighted with themselves, the tank brimming with our cheap diesel, only to meet big John Boy Dooley with the hand up at the bridge. 'That'll be €100, lads.' Wouldn't it be feicing gas!!!?"

Offaly officials have warned that people won't have long to avail of the loophole as the courts process to revoke the law will be completed by 5pm on April 1, 2026...