A High Court case taken by Lidl Ireland seeking an injunction against the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and its president Tim Cullinan, and vice-president Brian Rushe, is due to be discussed in court again in June.

Last Friday (April 16), Justice Senan Allen reserved judgement in the case taken by the supermarket retailer against the farm organisation and its officers over what it claims are ‘defamatory’ and ‘misleading’ comments.

Last month, the IFA and Lidl (as well as Aldi) got into a war of words over the labels those two retailers use on their milk.

On Sunday, March 14, the IFA ran an advertisement claiming that Lidl and Aldi labelled their milk in such a way to make it appear as though it comes from particular dairies or creameries, when those dairies and creameries didn’t exist.

Lidl refuted the claims stating that all of its milk comes from farmers in the Republic of Ireland.

Lidl vs IFA argument

At the time, the IFA said it stood over its advertisement and said that everything contained within the advert was accurate.

The association said that Lidl has a label saying ‘Coolree Creamery’ on its milk, although there is no such creamery.

The High Court argument by Lidl focuses on certain wording within the advert and claims that the advert seeks to imply that its own-branded milk is not Irish.

Lidl says this is defamatory and is seeking an injunction as a result, while the IFA and its president and vice-president have denied the claim.

High Court judgement

The matter came before Justice Senan Allen in the High Court last Friday (April 16) with Lidl Ireland seeking an injunction, which the IFA claimed would not be appropriate.

Counsel for the IFA said that the association would prove the case, if the matter went to trial.

Justice Allen reserved judgement in the case and it has now been listed for mention again in the High Court at the end of June.