Lisavaird and Carbery chairman Donal Tobin has stepped down from both roles. Tobin resigned on Saturday at a meeting of Lisavaird’s board, following his participation in a contentious transfer of fleximilk from Lee Strand, one of the last acts of the quota era.

Commenting on his decision, Tobin said: “While the transfer of quotas did not contravene any Department of Agriculture rules, I felt it was in the best interest of the company for me to step down. I would like to apologise to Lisavaird suppliers and colleagues for the controversy that has been caused and I wish Lisavaird Co-op well in the future.”

Carbery moved swiftly to fill the chairman’s position, appointing vice-chairman Dermot O’Leary, the Bandon co-op chair, on Tuesday. Donal Tobin’s two-year stint in the Carbery chair had been due to end in July, under the rotational agreement that exists between the four west Cork co-ops that jointly own Carbery.

Lisavaird has also filled the vacancy left by Tobin’s resignation, with John Hourihan, a dairy and beef farmer from Reenascreena, Rosscarbery, becoming the new chairman.

Clarification

On Monday, Lisavaird CEO Pat Moriarty outlined how events had unfolded when addressing over 200 suppliers. He emphasized that the co-op had no role in either the selection of the suppliers concerned, or in the subsequent distribution of the fleximilk. Co-op suppliers learned of the scheme through a farm organisation representative and word of mouth. Lee Strand had control of it’s distribution.

Lisavaird was contracted by Lee Strand to collect the milk and deliver it for processing as normal.

The ICMSA has also clarified that it had absolutely no involvement in the saga. It is understood that an ICMSA staff member, who may have played a part, has resigned.