Farmer and Kerry Group reach settlement in 'superpigs' case

A SETTLEMENT was reached at the High Court yesterday in the case of the "superpig" herd which failed to live up to expectations, forcing a farmer to sell land to avert financial ruin.

The case was taken by Denis O'Riordan, 59, from Coachford, Co Cork, who sought substantial damages for income lost as a result of purchasing 426 breeding pigs from Kerry Agri-Business, a subsidiary of the Kerry Group. The plaintiff, who runs Westview Pig Farm Ltd, also sued the Tralee-based pig process and bacon curing company Henry Denny and Son Ltd, which is also a Kerry group subsidiary.

Evidence was given that Mr O'Riordan had been told by the Kerry Group that the animals were of a "superpig" quality, producing meat of mythical standards, at a meeting in Bandon attended by a number of other producers. A brochure from the Swedish company Scan was shown at the meeting, referring to the benefits of purchasing such a breeding herd.