Angry protesters stopped Meat Industry Ireland representatives from entering the first meeting of the beef taskforce on Monday morning, over injunctions against three people which are still in place.

Over 40 protesters were outside the Department on Monday morning.

Senior director at MII Cormac Healy and Joe Ryan of MII were prevented from entering the Department of Agriculture by the protesters.

The protesters, armed with signs which said 'free the three', 'we haven't gone away Larry' and 'internment is long gone', did not allow MII to enter the building.

Protesters stopped MII representatives from entering the building. \ Claire Nash

Cormac Healy told the protesters that all the legal action had been lifted, with one protester, Colm Leonard, saying that his injunction from C&D Foods, which is owned by Larry Goodman, was still in place. Healy responded that C&D Foods is not a member of MII.

They then left the scene and the Irish Farmers Journal understands that they went in a separate door.

Gardaí are now at the scene. \ Claire Nash

The Beef Plan Movement's Dermot O'Brien went into the Department with a letter which called for the injunctions to be lifted and a for new chair of the beef taskforce to be put in place.

Gardaí are at the scene.

More to follow

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