A disputed Beef Plan EGM is to go ahead on Sunday against the backdrop of a solicitor’s letter threatening legal proceedings being issued by the national committee.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands the letter cites co-chairs Eamon Corley and Hugh Doyle and Galway chair Kevin O’Brien.

“Up until the protests at factory gates last summer, not many farmers had ever even heard of an injunction until Larry Goodman and his associate factory owners took them out against farmers.

“It is unbelievable that some members of Beef Plan now feel it is necessary to threaten the use of such injunctions against their fellow farmers and fellow members of Beef Plan rather than sitting down united with these members and Beef Plan to fight for better price for cattle and a better life for their fellow farmers,” a statement from Corley on behalf of “Beef Plan’s committee of newly elected county chairs” said this week.

We are seeking full transparency in relation to everything

The Beef Plan’s national committee, which was “stood down” by Corley and Doyle earlier this month and remains at odds with the co-chairs, is standing firm on its requests for full accountability on memberships registers and independently audited accounts.

“We are seeking full transparency in relation to everything. The members of Beef Plan deserve to know where their €10 went to. We will persist with having these issues reconciled on behalf of our members,” a spokesperson for the committee told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Doyle has confirmed there will be an independent audit of the company’s accounts.

Mediation

Efforts to resolve the dispute through mediation among senior Beef Plan members have so far proved futile.

We have offered mediation to the other side last week but we have not heard anything back

Corley’s statement said mediation had been offered “but as of yet this offer has not been accepted which is unfortunate”.

However, this is at odds with the national committee’s version of events. “We have offered mediation to the other side last week but we have not heard anything back,” the committee spokesperson said.