The committee representing farmers left unpaid by Edward and Paul Nugent Ltd are considering legal action after hearing that the company had been running sales at Castleblayney Mart without a licence from the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) for more than one year.

A spokesperson for the PSRA confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that the licence had expired on 19 February 2017.

The spokesperson added that farmers could check their mart’s or auctioneer’s licence on “customer-friendly” lists published online at www.psr.ie.

The Irish Farmers Journal analysed the lists running to hundreds of pages and found that all marts running regular livestock sales are currently licensed.

However, the smaller Clifden Mart in Co Galway and Templemore Mart in Co Tipperary do not have an up-to-date PSRA licence. Templemore Mart said that “all required documentation has been submitted and a licence will be issued in due course”. Clifden Mart said that it is “progressing an application and all trading is above board”.

Maam Cross Mart in Co Galway is in the normal process of renewing its licence after the recent death of its manager.

To obtain a licence, marts and auctioneers must prove they are qualified and tax-compliant, hold their clients’ funds in a separate account, have taken out indemnity insurance and contribute to a compensation fund.

The PSRA can prosecute professionals holding sales without a licence, but Edward and Paul Nugent Ltd does not appear on the list of actions taken by the regulator.

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Farmers can check marts and auctioneers' licences online