Around 50 farmers among those left unpaid after the collapse of the company running sales at Castleblayney mart in the spring took part in an IFA meeting in the Co Monaghan town this Monday night to consider legal action.

Castleblayney-based auctioneers EP Nugent Ltd lost its license in February 2017 but continued to run sales at the mart until last March, when it closed down and went into liquidation with around €250,000 owed to farmers and around €1m to other creditors.

'Duty of care'

The Property Services Regulatory Authority previously told the Irish Farmers Journal that it had updated the public register of licensees on its website and farmers could check that EP Nugent Ltd. had lost its licence. However, local solicitor Paul McCormack questioned whether this was sufficient to ensure the protection of customers.

During the meeting, IFA Ulster-north Leinster regional chairman Nigel Renaghan contacted IFA president Joe Healy to obtain legal assistance for the group of farmers. "We have agreed tho get the IFA's solicitors to liaise with Paul McCormack to get a second opinion from barristers. The IFA will pick up the tab for that," he told the meeting.

Find out more in this week's Irish Farmers Journal and on our weekly podcast.