Assaults on gardaí during farmers’ protest
Brendan Smith was forced to run the gauntlet yesterday as nearly 1,000 farmers from across Munster held a protest outside an agricultural co-op in Co Cork that he was visiting.
As the ministerial cortege approached the Carbery Milk Products plant in Ballineen, some farmers kicked his car and more smashed placards off it. After the minister was safely inside the plant, farmers continued to protest outside.
The scene turned even uglier as Mr Smith attempted to leave after opening a new cheese production section at the co-operative. One protester lay down on the road holding up the cortege for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, a number of gardaí were assaulted, including the local superintendent, Eddie McEoin.
No arrests were made by gardaí who were said to be particularly angry with Irish Farmers’ Association leaders who had promised them the protest would be peaceful.
Sean Clarke, IFA regional development officer, said it was the first chance for farmers to protest against cuts in Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) allowances since they were announced earlier in the week by Mr Smith.
The grants are provided for environmentally-friendly agricultural production.
Farmers receive an average €6,200 in REPS grants every year and claim the loss in income will put many of them on the breadline.
Munster IFA vice-president, Sean O’Leary, said farmers planned an even bigger protest in the minister’s hometown of Cavan. “The first we heard of this (the cuts) was last Wednesday and he (the minister) didn’t have the courtesy to make a phone call about it.”
He said if Mr Smith wasn’t prepared to talk with the IFA, farmers would take to the streets.
