After a tense meeting in St Joseph's Hall, Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, on Sunday night, protesting farmers remained outside Liffey Meats.

The meeting was organised to brief farmers on the outcome of Sunday’s negotiations and was addressed by some of the farmers who have been there protesting since the start and also the chair of the Beef Plan Movement Hugh Doyle.

Doyle briefed the crowd on the outcome of the negotiations and said that it was up to each individual to decide whether the deal brokered was good enough to stop the protests.

There was some anger from the floor that the deal didn’t go far enough and that it wasn’t enough to lift the blockade at Liffey Meats.

Reaction

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Cavan farmer Michael Coyle said: “We have been talking to the factory and they are willing to meet tomorrow to talk about price.

"There was a lot of people here tonight that weren't happy with the conditions of the agreement and, as of tonight, the decision has been taken to remain on the picket line."

Another farmer said: “Look, we are in a better place than we were three weeks ago and some progress has been made. There comes a point where you ask yourself have we brought this as far as it can go."

Base price

While base price wasn’t discussed as part of the negotiations, that was the main talking point on Sunday night and without an increase, it could be a while yet before there is any finish to the protests.

It is understood that some of the protest organisers are meeting local factory representatives on Monday to see if an agreement can be achieved on a beef price rise and a contract for local farmers for the next three months.

In another development late on Sunday night, the protest outside the Larry Goodman-owned C&D Foods in Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, was stood down.

It is understood that the legal threat hanging over the protesters and the threat of further injunctions made the protesters cease activity at the factory.

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