A protester who was arrested by Gardaí outside a meat processing facility in Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, yesterday has been released without charge in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday, September 3.
AgriLand understands that the male – in his 50s – is now in hospital as it is believed he sustained injuries during the protest yesterday.
Three members of the Irish Farmers’ Association’s (IFA’s) Cavan branch visited Bailieborough Garda Station, last night, and requested that the man was released.
Those IFA members were: national environmental chairman Thomas Cooney; chairperson of the Cavan branch Elizabeth Ormiston; and rural development chairman Joe Brady.
Breaches of Public Order Act
According to a statement by Gardaí, the arrested man was detained in relation to breaches of the Public Order Act.
Apparently, protesters had been allowing some vehicles – such as refrigerated lorries – in and out of the facility.
“It’s nobody in and nobody out now. Tempers are up. It’s no longer peaceful what’s going on here,” the farmer said.
It has been alleged that an agreement had been in place between Gardaí and the protesters, but that this agreement was “reneged on” by the authorities.
This is the first instance of a protester being arrested since the initial wave of protests began last month.