Beef protests stepped up on Wednesday, as processors pursued farmers through the High Court.

Slaney Foods and Kepak gained injunctions, as ABP and Dawn Meats did on Tuesday. Dawn Meats went a step further, asking the High Court for attachment and committal orders against a Mr Delahunty. Processors admitted they were finding it difficult to identify farmers at their gates.

Judge Senan Allen directed that Mr Delahunty must attend the High Court on Friday to explain his actions to the court, with the threat of being jailed a distinct possibility.

The IFA was in court to oppose the motion on behalf of farmers. Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, the IFA’s counsel said individual farmers may be unaware of the legal consequences of their actions.

Facebook is understood to be removing posts referring to the protests, with the Beef Plan Movement warning members who attend protests that they face expulsion.

Meanwhile, at the factory gates, numbers are increasing.

At Dawn Meats, Grannagh, workers and protesting farmers faced each other outside the factory, before an ad-hoc entrance to the rear of the plant allowed cattle lorries in.

Gardaí in Roscrea are investigating an incident where a cattle lorry burned while parked up in a yard on Monday night.

Meat Industry Ireland says it wants “further progress” to be made, while Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed says he remains available for talks.