A number of vegan activists targeted Rosderra Meats in Roscrea, Co Tipperary on Wednesday 26 June.

Footage from social media site Facebook, showed activists attempting to block trucks carrying pigs into the plant.

One of the activists who identified himself as Andy Anderson, said in a video post that the activists were attempting to engage with truck drivers as they drove into the plant.

“We’re here today to show people via social media be it the press that has arrived here that what’s going on here is not acceptable. No one deserves to have their rights taken away from them no matter what animal they are,” Anderson said.

They’re risking the lives of people

He said that the ultimate aim was to stop the pig processing plant altogether.

“We’re asking them (the truck drivers) to stop just for a minute or two to take some footage, take some photos and share that. What’s happening is that they’re just not co-operating. They’re charging at us with the truck.

“They’re risking the lives of people.”

Sophie Benker posted the first video showing activists at Rosderra online. She states on her Facebook page that she is the co-founder of a group called Those who love peace.

"Those Who Love Peace is not associated with this particular protest, I was there as an individual," Benker told the Irish Farmers Journal.

"The Stop The Trucks protest is a nonviolent disruption which serves to highlight that animals do not need to be used and to take them out of anonymity. Those Who Love Peace is an online platform which will launch later this year, aiming to normalise nonviolent activism and get more people taking action such as this, or any other type of protest, to work together and remove animals out of the food chain and grant them rights."

Rosderra Meats have also been contacted for comment on the incident.

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