Farmers maintain vigil in protest over centre
More than 150 people blocked the entrance to the centre yesterday and prevented Teagasc removing 40 cattle to another of its farms at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan.
Gardaí warned the protestors they were committing an offence by blocking the entrance gates.
After the crowd refused to leave, a lorry which had arrived to move the cattle drove away after failing to gain access.
Gardaí under Supt Hugh Coll, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, then began taking the names and addresses of some 70 protesters.
IFA president John Dillon accused Teagasc of ignoring the west of Ireland.
He claimed the closure of the Ballinamore facility would effectively end all research on wet land in Co Leitrim.
He warned the farmers that Teagasc might seek a High Court injunction to stop them from protesting outside the centre.
A spokesman for Teagasc said no decision had been taken at this point about seeking a court injunction.
He said all Teagasc was doing was moving animals from one of farm to another. It greatly regretted the disruption and intimidation caused b the protests.
The Teagasc board decided in May last year to sell the 76-acre Ballinamore farm as well as a number of other centres. That decision was sanctioned by the Minister for Agriculture and Food.
He said Teagasc is committed to implementing the decision and is fully convinced that the sale will not affect the quality of services to farmers in Leitrim.
“We will still have three centres in Leitrim, at Carrick-on-Shannon, Mohill and Manorhamilton and we also have a superb teaching and research facility at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan,” he said.
The Taoiseach earlier told the Dáil he can't intervene.
Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said local people in Leitrim were being bullied.
Sinn Féin deputies Martin Ferris and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin urged the minister to intervene to prevent the closure of the centre where, they said, the research being carried out could greatly benefit farmers in the north west.
