At least six lorries, nine jeeps with trailers and three tractors and trailers carrying cattle were waiting to enter the ABP Bandon meat plant on Wednesday morning.

A tractor and trailer with cattle and a lorry were allowed to enter at around 11am on animal welfare grounds.

Members of the Beef Plan Movement have been protesting outside the facility since before 8am as hauliers and farmers queued up to sell cattle.

Helen O’Sullivan of the Cork Beef Plan Movement said that farmers are carrying out “a peaceful protest”.

“It’s up to themselves [farmers] if they want to go in. Farmers are angry. We need change now, because they’re at their wits end. We can’t take any more,” she said.

She also said that farmers have “hit rock bottom”.

Gardaí

In response to a query from the Irish Farmers Journal on the protest in Bandon, a Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí attended the scene of a demonstration outside a premises in Bandon, Cork on Tuesday 30 July 2019 at approximately 5pm.

“In order to aid traffic flow into the premises, Gardaí assisted incoming vehicles by requesting that demonstrators move to the footpath. No arrests were made.”

The protest is ongoing and Gardaí are still at the scene.

Read more

Beef Plan Movement factory protests begin at ABP Bandon

Factory vets ordered to turn up for work amid protests

Man hospitalised after incident at Beef Plan Movement protest