Liffey Meats brand outbreak claims ‘grossly inaccurate and false’

A Ballyjamesduff meat factory has branded claims of an outbreak of Coronavirus among their staff as “grossly inaccurate and false”.
The criticism of Liffey Meats went viral when it was published on social media on Saturday evening and repeatedly shared.
It was sent anonymously by someone claiming to be a “concerned employee”. The unsubstantiated claims allege that up to 160 plant staff were “symptomatic of Coronavirus”.
A Liffey Meats spokesperson told the Celt: “The health and wellbeing of our employees and everyone entering our plants is our priority.”
The company also said that no employee who has had the Coronavirus has returned to work to date.
They added: “We have an experienced COVID-19 dedicated team, who have been fully engaged with the HSE from the start, coordinating our response at our plants.”
The company said that they are taking a number of procedures to ensure the health and safety of staff including, taking the temperature of everyone entering the premises and adhering to Government and HSE guidelines on self-isolating.
“These steps must be adhered to by everyone entering and leaving the plants, including all employees, suppliers and farmers.
“We are in ongoing contact with the HSE, who have confirmed that they are very satisfied with all the measures we have in place,” assured the spokesperson.

Department comment
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine confirmed that “responsibility for the Health and Safety of factory employees lies with the management of each meat establishment, taking into account the relevant public health advisories issued by the HSE and other government agencies”.