Farmer protesters scored a win at Kildare Chilling on Wednesday morning preventing nine livestock trucks unloading cattle. The first truck arrived at 6.30am. It was waved down by the protesters who proceeded – as now routine – to explain why they were there and to ask the driver to respect their picket.

The other trucks arrived while this was going on and queued outside on the busy main road. They arrived from both directions which meant passing traffic was seriously restricted.

In turn, Gardaí arrived in numbers and started managing the traffic safely.

Nine cattle trucks turned away from the factory this morning.

The now-usual discussions took place between the Gardaí and protesters but there were cool heads all round. The Beef Plan Movement leaders then announced the ending of their protest at the factory – it appeared it might be turning into a blockade which would be unlawful and, views were expressed that they could be injuncted by Kildare Chilling.

The individual farmers at the gate continued their protest. While they did not sit down or loudly demonstrate in front of the lead truck, nonetheless there were a lot of bodies moving about, including Gardaí. In the circumstances the truck driver put safety first and did not push through.

Meanwhile, the protesters allowed trucks and trailers carrying sheep pass through without fuss.

Stalemate

By 10am, the word among the protesters was that factory management had said that if the nine or so trucks were allowed in, the 170 cattle would be killed but no more trucks would come that day.

The first truck arrived at Kildare Chilling at 6.30am on Wednesday morning.

But the stalemate continued and at 11am the lorries turned around and drove away with their cattle, all heading south. There were a few cheers as the first lorry drove away.

Kildare Chilling’s plans to kill cattle on Monday were disrupted. The sheep kill could go ahead. With the lorries gone, traffic on the road returned to normal, Gardaí chatted to farmers and prepared to leave for their next job.

Claims

Protesters stood around chatting. Some speculated that the nine trucks could be now heading to another export plant to try get in. One farmer claimed that it was a deliberate tactic of meat factories to arrange for nine or 10 cattle trucks to arrive together outside their gates – the resulting traffic disruption puts pressure on the Gardaí who might then lose patience with protesters.