RTÉ News has reported that up to a dozen meat plants were granted temporary High Court injunctions in order to restrain protesters from blockading their factories or intimidating staff and hauliers.

Judge Senan Allen was told that the threatening and abusive actions of protesters could put a multimillion euro meat deal with the Chinese market in jeopardy.

Barristers representing ABP and Dawn Meats informed the judge that a delegation from China was due to visit meat plants this week and given that the deal had taken a number of years to set up, it could take many years again to renegotiate if the deal was cancelled due to protesters.

The injunction will apply to named protesters and anyone with knowledge of the making of the court's orders, from continuing their blockade.

“The market is very soft at the moment and producers have got legitimate concerns. But perhaps breaking the law and blockading business premises is not the right way to achieve their aims,” Niall Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats, told the Meat Business Women conference in Dublin on Tuesday.

Premises

According to RTÉ, the court's orders in the case of Dawn Meats apply to premises at Grannagh, Co Waterford; Meadow Meats, Rathdowney, Co Laois; Hazel Hill, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo; Ardnageehy, Charleville, Co Cork; and Greenhills, Beauparc, Slane, Co Meath.

The ABP plants covered by the court's restraints are APB premises at Bandon, Co Cork; Nenagh, Co Tipperary; Rathkeale, Co Limerick; Cahir, Co Tipperary; Clones, Co Monaghan; and Ferrybank, Co Waterford.

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