LacPatrick dairy farmers were due to be paid for September milk yesterday (Thursday 25 October) but have not been paid until today (Friday 26 October).

Also staff at LacPatrick were due to be paid yesterday but were not paid until today.

It is understood that co-op management met on Thursday to look at the options to resolve the banking administration difficulties.

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Structures

It is understood new banking structures were agreed that will see farmers and staff paid over the coming months until the merger deal with Lakeland is finalised in the new year.

LacPatrick suppliers received a text last night alerting them to the delay and a reassurance that money for September milk would be in bank accounts today.

On Tuesday LacPatrick and Lakeland shareholders overwhelmingly passed a motion that would see the co-ops merge to create a much larger co-op in the northern half of the country. LacPatrick Dairies initiated merger talks a number months ago and Lakeland Dairies came out as the preferred bidder.

In late August, Gabriel Darcy stepped down as chief executive at LacPatrick and Dr Sean Brady was appointed as interim chief executive.