Last week’s Shorthorn Cattle Society AGM elected four new faces and heard allegations of rule breaking.

A total of four of the 12 seats on council were up for renewal – those of Andy Donohoe, Michael McKeon, Peter Luttrell and John Clarke. When this was made known to members, some other breeders started to declare their interest.

Jim Foley, former society president, expressed a keen interest in one of the seats.

It is understood some council members were against this proposed nomination. When society president Phil Sheedy learned of some concern, he arranged an emergency meeting half an hour before the planned AGM.

At this meeting, council member and former society president Michael Conway said Jim Foley was ineligible for the position due to part (e) of rule 53 in the society byelaws with relation to conflict of interest. This rule states: “No member shall be entitled to continue as a member of the Council: If he/she becomes a member of the Committee or a Council of any Society, Body Corporate or business organisation which is in competition with the Society.”

Producer group

Conway suggested that due to Foley’s involvement in the Irish Angus Producer Group, he was ineligible for the position. Conway then produced a letter from a solicitor to the president of the society.

It is understood that some society members are involved with the recently formed Shorthorn Marketing Company.

The society, however, is not involved in the running of the company. This new company has been the source of internal discussions previously.

The Shorthorn Marketing Company would be a similar version of what the Irish Angus Producer Group is to the Angus Society.

Sheedy said there was no way to prove Foley was in direct competition and that the vote was to go ahead.

Conway then left the emergency meeting, threatening legal action to both society president Phil Sheedy and the society.

Following the emergency meeting, the AGM took place as planned. Conway did not attend. During the meeting, Andy Donohoe got up and said he would not stay on council but would remain a member. He also said he may pursue legal action against members he thought were breaking the rules. Peter Luttrell then proceeded to do the same.

Michael McKeon and John Clarke had stated that they would not be running for re-election.

The AGM witnessed one of the highest turnouts since the society’s formation, with 57 votes cast correctly.

The four available seats were filled by Jim Foley, Jude Benson, Pauraic Flanagan and Lisa Dowd.