Farmer abandons hunger strike against EU scheme

THE Limerick farmer who has been staging a hunger strike to protest at non-payment of Rural Environmental Protection Scheme cheques gave up his protest yesterday after a health scare.

Donal O’Brien was taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital after feeling unwell.

He had staged a sit-in at the offices of the Department of Agriculture in Raheen Industrial Estate since last Thursday and stopped taking food on Saturday afternoon.

After being admitted to hospital yesterday, he was later discharged after being given the all-clear.

Mr O’Brien said: “I was feeling very groggy and the doctor advised me not to be taking any chances. There is no point putting my health at risk. But my protest hasn’t been in vain and I am not giving up on this matter.

“The department is now under fierce pressure to put pressure on the EU to get this sorted out.

“I expect a development by the end of the week.”

Mr O’Brien says he is due a cheque of €8,700.

Payments normally paid in January under the scheme have now been put back to the end of the year due to a ruling by EU auditors.

A rally supporting his protest was held outside the offices on Sunday and those present were addressed by the president of the IFA, Pádraig Walshe.

Mr O’Brien had previously been one of the leaders of a protest against switching a public water supply from a lake source to one being sourced from a river.

He and others were brought before the High Court as they prevented Limerick County Council carrying out pipe laying work. The objectors said they wanted to retain the supply from Bleach Lake claiming the supply from the river was contaminated.