Farmer stand-off continues at Liffey meats

Almost a dozen trucks making deliveries are being held up as a picket against current beef industry prices continues outside the Liffey Meats' processing plant in Ballyjamesduff.

More than 100 independent farmers are part of the blockade which, despite the drizzle, has swelled in numbers throughout the early part of the day. They are currently  walking in protest outside the gates of the local plant, with bale and barrier in place, and many of those involved are dressed in hi-vis jackets.

Gardaí are also at the scene, with a traffic management system in place to ensure a relatively free-flow of traffic.

It's understood that the first delivery trucks that arrived to the Frank Mallon owned plant this morning did attempt to gain entry through the front gates, but the protesters refused to let the vehicles pass.

Details of an injunction order secured last week, restraining protesters from blockading the company's factories in Ballinasloe and Hackettstown also, is framed and fixed to the front facing wall.

In granting the injunction, Mr Justice David Barniville of the High Court had been told that the slaughtering of animals at the plants had ceased due to protesters blocking the entrances.

As no livestock was getting through the jobs of the firm's 600-strong workforce had been put at risk, the company's counsel Rory Mulcahy SC informed the court.

Farmers as part of the Ballyjamesduff protest however are adamant, and in spite of the order being made, that their stand against current beef prices will continue until there are steadfast guarantees that an increase will be delivered upon and negeotiations recommence.

The Beef Plan Movement and Meat Industry Ireland - the body representing Irish meat processors - last month accepted compromise proposals aimed at ending the ongoing dispute over beef prices.

The farmers' group has meanwhile distanced themselves from the unofficial protests, with farmers on the picket saying they are not protesting as part of any group.