Disclosure of cattle exporter’s accounts

The country’s leading exporter of pedigree cattle, who alleges he was defamed in an article in the Irish Farmers Journal three years ago, has been ordered by a judge to disclose audited accounts for three years.

Ciaran Lawlor, counsel for cattle exporter Hubert Maxwell, told the Circuit Civil Court yesterday his client was abandoning any claim of financial loss and should therefore not have to disclose financial documents.

Mr Maxwell, aged 77, of Ballinagare, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, is a well-known exporter of pedigree Holstein and Friesian cattle internationally and is suing The Agricultural Trust which trades as the Irish Farmers Journal.

Mr Maxwell alleges in an article on prices for dairy stock it was implied he had underpaid farmers for livestock and while not specifically naming him he had been identified as the exporter concerned.

Gareth Compton, counsel for the trust, told the court, in the civil bill served on his client, there had been an allegation of financial loss and, in order to defend the case, he was entitled to the financial statements included in his demand for discovery.

Mr Lawlor said Mr Maxwell was seeking to set aside an order of the county registrar of March 2016 relating to discovery of financial documents from 2012 up to July 2015 arising from an alleged defamation.

He said there was no specific claim for any special damages for financial loss and the claim related only to loss of personal and financial reputation.

Mr Lawlor said it was the contention of the defendants that they were entitled to all management accounts but the endorsement of claim had not stated Mr Maxwell’s business had been financially diminished as a result of the article.

Judge Linnane struck out Mr Maxwell’s appeal against the county registrar’s order and directed the discovery order be complied with within four weeks from today.