The High Court has granted an injunction against farmers protesting outside a number of beef factories.

The action was taken by Dawn Meats and ABP to stop farmers from blocking access to their plants in an ongoing row over beef prices.

ABP says the resumption of blockades left it with "no choice but to seek an injunction to allow processing to resume".

An ABP spokesperson said: "Last week, our industry representative body, MII [Meat Industry Ireland], reached agreement with farming organisations to facilitate a programme of work over the next month.

"However, blockades resumed on Sunday night.

"ABP are at a loss to understand why in the middle of a process set up by the Minister, and agreed by all parties we are now in this situation.

"The granting of the injunction clarifies that these protests were totally unwarranted and unlawful."

While Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has claimed that the "ongoing illegal blockades" are putting Irish jobs at risk.

In a statement, the body said: "The blockading activity which is stopping both cattle entering and meat consignments exiting an increasing number of beef processing facilities has left companies with no alternative but to seek legal protection for the business from the court.

"Thousands of jobs are being put at risk, hard won customers for Irish beef cannot be served and will quickly look for an alternative supply.

"New market opportunities in countries such as China will be prevented from expanding and farmers with market ready cattle are being stopped from processing them."

The statement added: "The price currently paid to Irish farmers for their cattle is the average price paid to their European counterparts.

"We export 90% of the beef we produce to over 45 markets across Europe and beyond.

"The overall beef market is currently extremely challenging and the action taken by those blockading is in no one's interest."

It comes a day after the Beef Plan Movement rejected a deal put forward last week following lengthy discussions.

A range of measures were agreed following discussions between farmers, industry and Agriculture Minister Michael Creed.

However, farmers were unhappy that the beef prices were not up for discussion during negotiations.

Main image: Pictured are a group of independent farmers stopping refrigerated trucks carrying packed meat leaving and entering the factory as they are protesting at the Dawn Meats plant at Grannagh on the Waterford/Kilkenny border | Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie