Balaclava-clad men join protestors blockading Kilkenny meat processing plant

By COLIN BARTLEY

PROTESTERS in balaclavas have been seen amongst the farmers blockading a meat processing plant in county Kilkenny.

Earlier today Dawn Meats said it contacted gardai after becoming aware of protestors wearing full-face masks or balaclavas outside their facility in Grannagh, South Kilkenny, in what it described as a ‘sinister development.’

The plant is still being blockaded this evening, despite stakeholders in the Beef Dispute coming to an agreement following talks over the weekend.

Various farm groups, including the Beef Plan Movement, agreed to the recommendations of the talks, however, the recently formed group, the Independent Farmers of Ireland said “they can neither accept nor reject these proposals,” at the conclusion of the talks.

The blockades were suspended while talks were ongoing, but just hours after they concluded, protesters were back at the gates of the Kilkenny facility.

Over 300 workers were temporarily laid off last week at the Dawn Meats plant in Grannagh. Over 3,000 employees in the meat processing industry have been laid off nationwide because of the dispute.

A sister plant of the Grannagh facility had its blockade lifted this afternoon.

The blockade of the Dawn Meats facility in Slane, Co Meath was stood down due to declining numbers on the gate. This is the first blockade to be lifted at any of Dawn Meats plants.