Donegal Meat plant re-opens
abbatoir, Agribusiness, meat plant, news
The Meat plant in Lifford, Co., Donegal has reopened after closure in 2016 it has been confirmed.
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Lifford Meat plant, which was closed for over 18-months after it went into receivership, has re-opened for business, as reported in Donegal News.
The meat factory had been closed after an ongoing dispute between plant owners and the bank appointed receiver over two years ago in 2016. This dispute led to several people locking themselves into the plant, in a stand-off that lasted several months.
Liam McGavigan, who was the owner at the time, has confirmed that the meat plant and abattoir had carried out their first kills earlier this week. He also confirmed that he is also back working at the facility. At the time of the incident, Mr. McGavigan had sworn in High Court that he would vacate the premised.
There were claims of over 100 farmers in Donegal being owed in excess of €1m from the meat factory, which was formerly operated by Edenmore Farm Meats Ltd. The plant is said to have debts in excess of €1.4m at the time of closure.
"I'm working within the company to try and make sure it's a success for the new owners - C&J Meats - while I'm also trying to help farmers recoup the money that's outstanding to them. I'm personally owed a considerable sum of money too,", Mr McGavigan told Donegal news.
"Edenmore Farm Meats Ltd have disappeared. They've filed no returns and the company has been struck off. I've have since sold the plant to C&J Meats. They have carried out refurbishment works, and we done our first kill this week.", he added.
Liam also confirmed that there is more staff employed in the factory, with more to soon follow suit. He hopes to soon have up to twenty-five people working there.
"At the minute, I'm working as the manager and we're working off a skeleton staff but I'm advertising for workers on their behalf. Initially, they hope to employ twenty-five people - rising to over fifty," Mr McGavigan said.
"Any issues that I may have had have all been resolved and I'm working closely with the farmers to try and solve their problem. I'm also working through other legal channels," he noted.
Post by KevinForde
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