The Garda armed-response unit was part of a significant Garda presence outside the premises of Asba Meats in Shannon, Co Clare, on Friday afternoon.

They were called as management of the company, to which a receiver was appointed on Monday, tried to gain access to the site.

JJ McDonagh, lairage director for the company’s Ennis facility, told the Irish Farmers Journal that they were trying to get access to the site, as they needed to check on the condition of meat stored in the facility.

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A notice on the door of the factory reads: “Following the appointment of John Quinlan and James Anderson of Deloitte Ireland LLP as Joint Receivers to Asba Meats Limited on 15 September 2025, the Company has ceased trading until further notice.”

JJ McDonagh confirmed that Asba Meats had been prevented from killing at the abattoir in Ennis on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, but had recommenced slaughter on Thursday.

Locks changed

Another person present, who identified himself as Tareq, said that the receiver had changed the locks on the Shannon facility on Monday morning without giving any notice.

He said that the locks were changed on the facility in Ennis too. He complained that by closing the business, the receiver was devaluing the assets of the company.

He said that Asba still has the ability to pay its debts and has a significant number of customers. “Asba can survive and Asba needs to survive,” he added.

Tareq said that Deloitte had contacted the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on Wednesday saying that Asba’s slaughter license should be revoked as the company was no longer trading. He said that the Department confirmed that without a court order, it has no authority to revoke the license.

Deloitte, when contacted, said it would not be commenting on this matter. The Department of Agriculture has been contacted for comment.