The removal of hundreds of animals from the farm of John Hanrahan in Co Tipperary has been defended by the Department of Agriculture which says it had to be done on animal welfare grounds.
Mr Hanrahan came to prominence in the 1980s as a result of his legal battle with Merck Sharp & Dohme which had opened a chemical plant close to his farm near Carrick-on-Suir.
He took a High Court case against the company after many of his cattle died. He lost in the High Court, but won his appeal to the Supreme Court.
He has been in dispute with the Department of Agriculture over the loss of his milk quota during the lengthy period he was in conflict with Merck Sharp & Dohme.
The department said last night that on February 10th, it served a notice under regulations directing Mr Hanrahan to provide sufficient fodder to satisfy the needs of the animals on his farm.
A further notice was issued on February 20th.
It said that on March 1st, proposals were put to Mr Hanrahan with a view to assisting him in dealing with the welfare issue, but Mr Hanrahan did not accept them.
On the basis that Mr Hanrahan had failed to comply with the terms of the notices, the department yesterday morning moved in to seize the animals and address the immediate welfare problems because the condition of the animals posed an unacceptable welfare risk.
It confirmed it had also served a notice yesterday on Mr Hanrahan informing him of his right of appeal to the District Court on the proposed sale of the animals by the department.
Yesterday, as the animals were being rounded up, Mr Hanrahan claimed he had been asking for weeks for the department to intervene for the welfare of the cattle and to take them out of their misery.
"Feed has been in short supply around here this year," he said. "I wanted the cattle fed on my own land as recommended to the department by my farm adviser, but the Minister failed to do that.
"I have assurances that the cattle are going to be looked after and that is my main priority. It makes it easier on the family, because it has been heartbreaking to see dumb animals having been held to ransom."
Mr Hanrahan, who had initially objected to the removal of the animals when department staff arrived to take them at 7.30am, later helped 10 officials - who were accompanied by gardaí - to round up the animals.
He told reporters that running the farm had been difficult over the past 2½ decades. "There were monies owned to us by the department for extra quota I had to lease," he said. He believed he was owed €2.4 million.
He said yesterday was one of the worst days in the long farming tradition of his family whose ancestors had been working the 265-acre holding around their Ballycurkeen Estate since 1307.
"It's a traumatic day for the family, but in the interests of the welfare of the cattle I am glad they are being removed," Mr Hanrahan said.
Hanrahans: the story so far
1976: Merck Sharp & Dohme opens its plant at Baldness.
1978: The Hanrahans and neighbours complain of air pollution from the plant.
1982: By now, more than 120 cattle have died on the Hanrahan farm.
1985: High Court action by the Hanrahans against Merck Sharp & Dohme begins in February. In August, the judge finds against the Hanrahans who are ordered to pay costs of over £1 million.
1987: The Hanrahans appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
1988: Supreme Court finds in favour of the family.
1990: The family receive an undisclosed sum in settlement of their case and legal costs.
February 20th, 2006: Mr Hanrahan is served with a notice directing him to provide for animals under his care.
March 15th, 2006: Department of Agriculture officials move in and remove some cattle from the Hanrahan farm on welfare grounds.