Talks between individual farmer protesters and a meat processor in Co. Laois have fallen through, resulting in a resumption of demonstrations, it is understood.
Protesters outside the factory – Meadow Meats in Rathdowney, Co. Laois – had come to an arrangement with management at the factory for demonstrators to stand down and allow a limited supply of cattle to be let into the plant in order to facilitate talks.
The deal, initially made yesterday, Friday, August 30, fell through when, according to protesters at the plant, the factory “went back on their end”.
However, the meeting came to a halt with no concessions agreed and lorries were driven up to the factory.
According to demonstrators, lorries “tried to ram through people” to get past before eventually conceding and pulling back.
It is also claimed that factory staff were recording the scenes on their phones “looking for an excuse to place an injunction on people”.
Responding to the protester claims in a statement to AgriLand, a spokesperson for the owner of the plant, Dawn Meats, said:
“We cannot negotiate with any parties who refuse to confirm their willingness to engage only in peaceful protests and who refuse to guarantee that trucks will be allowed to enter and exit our facility.
Protesters in Rathdowney were unable to give this commitment, in contravention of a High Court order, and therefore we could not have substantive discussions.
“Claims that trucks ‘rammed’ blockaders are entirely false, and designed to unnecessarily inflame the situation and mislead the general public,” the Dawn Meats representative added.