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Dawn Meats has contacted local gardaí in relation to concerns about the presence of masked individuals manning the “illegal blockade” outside its plants in Grannagh, Co Waterford.
Just hours after a deal was agreed with farmer groups over the weekend, Dawn Meats said that protesters hiding their identity with balaclavas appeared on the gates and are continuing their protest on Wednesday.
If these protesters genuinely felt that they had right on their side, they would show their identities
A spokesperson for Dawn Meats said: “The use of balaclavas to hide the protesters’ identity is a sinister and unsettling development.
"It demonstrates that these people are well aware of the illegality of their actions. It is depressing that the law of the land can be openly disobeyed with impunity.
Identities
“If these protesters genuinely felt that they had right on their side, they would show their identities and face the consequences of their actions.
"Instead they leave local farmers unable to sell their animals, and hundreds of staff without work.”
Dawn Meats has said that it also noticed masked protesters outside its Meadow Meats facility in Rathdowney, Co Laois, which faces possible closure if protests continue.
Staff layoffs
The protests over the past three weeks forced Dawn Meats to temporarily lay off over 300 workers at the Grannagh plant last week.
Farmers who want to sell their factory-ready cattle are unable to deliver them for slaughter, and the company is unable to fulfil the customer orders on which the factory and the livelihoods of its employees depend, it said.
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