Factories and protesters in and out of High Court

The past week saw the factories in and out of the High Court to battle protesting cattle farmers with a range of legal actions.

On Thursday, Liffey Meats became the fifth meat company to obtain an interim injunction, this against the Beef Plan Movement company and 14 named farmers.

On Friday morning, the temporary injunctions already secured by ABP, Dawn Meats and Slaney Foods were made permanent. This was done with the consent of the named farmers, meaning negotiation had taken place.

Legal team

Most of the farmers were represented by the IFA’s legal team, and its president Joe Healy pledged legal support to any farmer who needed it.

The farmers agreed to not blockade, trespass or intimidate factories and visitors, while the factories agreed not to seek legal costs or damages incurred up to that point. The court orders were extended to cover any unidentified persons engaging in illegal acts.

Also on Friday, a committal to imprison order sought by Dawn Meats against cattle farmer Seamus ‘Mex’ Delahunty was lifted after he agreed to obey the injunction.

Dawn alleged he had breached its terms by intimidating its agents. It will not seek costs or damages.

Moving to this week, on Tuesday Kepak’s interim injunction against eight Ennis protesters was made permanent, again with the farmers’ consent. Kepak will not seek legal costs or damages.

The Beef Plan Movement company, named in the injunction, was not included in this settlement.

Court order

Three of 14 farmers against whom Liffey Meats had injunctions granted after protesting at Ballinasloe likewise consented to obey the High Court order.

Liffey Meats won’t seek legal costs or damages. Again, the Beef Plan Movement was not included in this settlement. The other 11 named Liffey-injuncted farmers against whom injunctions were granted are to appear at the High Court on Friday.

Also on Tuesday, Dawn Meats again stepped up its legal actions. It obtained leave to serve attachment and committal motions on 16 protesters at Grannagh and Rathdowney, for breaching court orders.

Seven protesters were named, while the other nine were listed as John Does, but identified in court to Justice Anthony Barr by photographs.