Goodman firm seeks security for costs order in defamation case

A company of beef baron Larry Goodman has sought High Court orders requiring McAdam Food Products Ltd to provide security for costs of a defamation action brought over a press statement which alleged horse DNA was present in certain meat products.

Martin McAdam and McAdam Food Products Ltd launched the defamation proceedings against ABP Food Group arising from the statement issued in the name of ABP Food Group and published on February 5, 2013. They claim the statement was widely published and was meant, and was understood to mean, they had sold beef products to ABP that contained horsemeat and they were the main cause of the Irish horsemeat scandal.

As a direct consequence, the plaintiffs claim they suffered serious injury to their reputations, and loss and damage. ABP is concerned about the ability of the McAdam firm to pay any costs awarded to ABP, counsel said. The application continues before Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns.