“We will stay here for months if we have to.” This was the message from Aidan Doorley, Roscommon Beef Plan Movement committee member, speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal outside the gates of Kepak, Athleague on Thursday evening. “At this stage, Roscommon farmers feel they have nothing to lose and this is the last stand. During the day is the quietest time but once 7pm comes and farmers are home from work and have their jobs done numbers have risen here to 150 most evenings,” Doorley said.
“We will stay here for months if we have to.” This was the message from Aidan Doorley, Roscommon Beef Plan Movement committee member, speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal outside the gates of Kepak, Athleague on Thursday evening.
“At this stage, Roscommon farmers feel they have nothing to lose and this is the last stand. During the day is the quietest time but once 7pm comes and farmers are home from work and have their jobs done numbers have risen here to 150 most evenings,” Doorley said.
“We were told on Monday that we would be a one-day wonder but we are now on day four and people’s heads are actually starting to lift with a bit of hope returning,” said Doorley .
Rota
The Roscommon group has organised a rota which means there are people guarding a number of entrances at the Kepak factory in Athelague at all times, day and night. Doorley said: “We’re not stopping anybody from entering the factory but instead explaining to them why we are here and asking for their support. Most people are listening and not coming back with cattle”.
There are still cattle and sheep going into the factory but numbers are getting smaller every day.
Vets
There has been some confusion in relation to vets working in factories around the country.
In Athleague, a number of local vets have supported the Beef Plan Movement and not crossed the picket, while it is understood a number of retired vets are still entering the factory on a daily basis.
A young farmer at the Beef Plan protest at Kepak, Athleague.
The group has received huge local support, with a local Londis shop owner delivering sandwiches and water yesterday evening for the night ahead. It is understood that there were about 100 cattle in the factory yesterday for slaughtering.
One of the farmers present claimed that a local yard was being used as an assembly centre for cattle and that this has been reported to the Department of Agriculture as a breach of animal movement rules.
The Roscommon group has heard of factory agents putting huge pressure on farmers to sell cattle but are asking farmers to resist this pressure.
Demands
When questioned on what the movement’s demands were, Doorley said: “We have a very simple objective. We are asking Meat Industry Ireland to come out and talk to Beef Plan. We are not asking to speak to any individual factory”.
The Irish Farmers Journal understand that contact has been made by MII to Beef Plan Movement after correspondence was sent to MII requesting a meeting. As of yet no meeting has taken place. In the email, the Beef Plan Movement requested that farmers receive a fair share of the retail price.
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