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Meat plants 'will seek to jail protesters' as farmers denounce 'heavy-handed legal tactics'

There have been reports of scuffles at protests outside plants today.

LAST UPDATE | 28 Aug 2019

THE OWNER OF several meat factories has told the High Court that protests at one of its processing plants have escalated since it secured an injunction restraining the blockading of their factories and the intimidation of staff and suppliers.

Dawn Meats brought the first of what Mr Justice Senan Allen was told could be many applications that could see individual protesters jailed for being in contempt of court.

Farmers are protesting a fall in the amount they receive for beef and attempting to force processors to pay higher prices, saying their livelihoods are at risk. 

Lawyers for firms Dawn Meats and Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) yesterday separately secured various orders restraining several named protesters, and anyone with knowledge of the court’s orders, from continuing their blockade of the plants.

Lyndon MacCann, SC for Dawn Meats, returned before the High Court today and told Judge Allen that the situation outside his client’s plant at Grannagh, Co Waterford, had “intensified overnight”.

This morning deliveries of cattle to the plant had been blocked by protestors, who stood in front of the vehicles and refused to move aside, the judge heard. An attempt was made to use the rear entrance of the plant and several deliveries got through.

Once protestors had learned of this they parked a small truck at the rear gate, blocking it.

MacCann, who appeared with barrister Stephen Walsh, said that one farmer, who was named in court, directed verbal abuse at one of the Dawn Meat managers.

A copy of the court order with a penal endorsement had been served on him, he said.

MacCann said that trucks, which have nothing to do with beef processing, had also been refused access by the protestors. Dawn Meats now wishes to bring a motion seeking the attachment of one of the protesters and/or his imprisonment if he fails to comply with the injunction.

MacCann said that approximately 60 people are believed to be involved in the protest at Grannagh, the identities of whom are currently unknown to the company. 

Consequences for breaching court orders 

Barrister Patricia Hill, counsel for the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) which is not a party to the proceedings, asked the court to consider putting a stay on any order that could see any of the protesters end up in prison.

She said the IFA was seeking time to engage with the parties and see if the situation could be resolved. The IFA had concerns as to whether the farmers involved in the protests were aware of the consequences of any breaches.

Mr Justice Allen, who noted what the IFA had said to the court, said he was mindful of the tensions involved and that the situation was most difficult. While he had no difficulty about talks taking place between the parties, there was however no room for engagement or negotiations in a situation where court orders were being breached. 

He said the courts had to act swiftly when orders of the court were being flouted. The terms of the injunctions granted by the court yesterday were obvious to anybody with the slightest intelligence, he said.

“Everybody who has had sight of the orders could understand what they mean,” Judge Allen said and, in the circumstances, he added that the court was prepared to grant Dawn Meats permission to bring the attachment and committal proceedings which he made returnable to Friday’s sitting of the court.

Temporary injunctions against protesters were also granted today by Judge Allen in relation to blockades at Kepak plants, and by Mr Justice Tony O’Connor in relation to people blockading premises at Ryland Lower, Bunclody, Co Wexford.

The orders, similar to ones granted to Dawn Meats and ABP yesterday, prohibit named defendants from trespassing, obstructing, hindering or in any way interfering with access to meat plants.

Barrister Anthony Thuillier, counsel for Kepak Group said the protests were costing the group financial loss and threatened a new multi-million-euro deal with China.

‘We’re not aggressive people’ 

Many farmers have insisted they are engaging in peaceful protests and not intimating anyone.

One farmer outside Meadow Meats in Rathdowney, Co Laois, told TheJournal.ie protesters are “a bit on edge after the court proceedings”.

“We’re not aggressive people at all. The minute your photograph or your name is taken then the gardaí will be down with their clipboards and I’ll be up in Dublin in the court because of it,” the man said this afternoon.

Edmond Phelan, the president of the Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA), said protesters outside the Rathdowney plant had used a “pragmatic approach” to facilitate a Chinese inspection taking place there.

“This sensible compromise between the farmers and the Rathdowney management stands in massive contrast to the belligerent approach ongoing in the High Court with ABP.

I have repeatedly said that heavy-handed legal tactics are no solution to the Chinese impasse. We all want to see more sales to China but farmers have to get their fair share.

“Farmers are sick and tired of doing all the work while those further down the food chain grab all the profit. Farmers need a substantial price rise immediately if they are to avoid going bust…

“I find it hard to believe that meat factories think that persecuting the very farmers that have made billionaires out of beef barons is the solution to the beef crisis,” Phelan added.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has said he is happy to facilitate further talks in a bid to resolve the issue.

Additional reporting by Órla Ryan, Garreth MacNamee and Ceimin Burke

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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 5:18 PM

    Jeez, but i hate to even read that word Heroin, it`s the scourge of so many towns and cities.

    226
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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 5:49 PM

    @Pixie McMullen: More loot for the greedy lawyers!

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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 5:59 PM

    @John Mc Donagh: awful on those criminals breaking the law, making thy lawyers rich.

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    Mute MAJOR PAIN
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:05 PM

    A slap on the hand and a suspended sentence incoming

    58
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    Mute Mazza86
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:40 PM

    @MAJOR PAIN: With zero accountability either and people think the Gardaí are the problem…

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    Mute Bill Clay
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:09 PM

    Gards looking bad (again) to the public, start the spin machine with all the good news bust stories.
    I’m almost surprised theres not one of one of them walking an old lady across the street, but they’ve used that one already.

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    Mute Darcy
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:28 PM

    @Bill Clay:so according to you drugs worth 500k should not be reported in the news because it’ll only make the Gadai look good ? Are you not a believer of credit where it’s due ?

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    Mute Mazza86
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:37 PM

    @Bill Clay: To be fair, despite the bad press of a few, the vast majority, by and large, continue to conduct their duty professionally and with utmost diligence. In my opinion the good work of the majority of Gardaí is not highlighted enough and that goes for all first responders too.. So unless you’ve walked in their shoes you will have no idea of what they face on a daily basis to keep you and everyone else safe…

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    Mute Bill Clay
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:43 PM

    @Darcy: of course these stories are supposed to make them look good, that’s what their press office is for.
    But yes if more of these drugs were taken off the street well yes credit where it’s due.
    But that still doesn’t change the fact that they’re rotten to the core

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    Mute Darcy
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:58 PM

    @Bill Clay: again tarring everyone with the same brush ..some not all are

    26
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    Mute Sean
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 8:22 PM

    @Bill Clay: For fans of The Wire this is known as”drugs on the table” policing. The drugs are put on the table. There is a picture of them in the media possibly with the Garda Commissioner, the message goes out that a blow has been struck in the War on Drugs. The kicker is that nothing changes. Drug seizures are factored into the price charged for hard drugs in the same way that spillage is allowed for by breweries dealing with kegs of beer. The prohibition on drugs does have one noticeable side effect – it increases the price and the profits for the drug wholesalers, and at the end of the chain, the Mr. Bigs / Mrs. Bigs.

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    Mute Mary Dunphy
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    Dec 24th 2018, 12:14 AM

    Well done to the Gardai.

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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:06 PM

    There won’t be blow this Christmas

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    Mute Tom Lavin
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:09 PM

    Street value, now I don’t know where you get your cocaine from but its only worth 200,000

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    Mute mick scanlan
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 6:37 PM

    €500;000 not €480.000 Really

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    Mute Patrick Kilbane
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    Dec 23rd 2018, 7:55 PM

    Insert ‘White Christmas’ joke here

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    Mute Barra O Brien
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    Dec 24th 2018, 2:18 AM

    That’s Christmas ruined for a few people, Conor are you listening?

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