A company which conducts trials on genetically modified sugar beet, has called on public representatives to dissociate themselves from "criminal acts of wanton damage" during protests at a Wexford farm on Sunday.
Pointing out that the Environmental Protection Agency had given its consent to Monsanto to conduct the trials, it alleges that about 70 protesters removed sugar beet plants at a farm in Arthurstown, near New Ross, last Sunday, where trials are taking place.
Among the protesters at the farm were Mr John Gormley TD and Ms Nuala Ahern MEP of the Green Party, and the Mr Joe Higgins TD of the Socialist Party.
In a statement yesterday Monsanto said "serious damage" was done at the Arthurstown farm "during protest action by a group of environmental activists who have previously associated themselves with Genetic Concern".
It also confirmed that "a number of sugar beet plants were removed from the site" but said "despite the destruction sufficient material remains for the trial to continue".
The statement said Monsanto was "deeply disturbed" that the protest "should have culminated in criminal acts of trespass and damage" and felt it was "ironic that environment groups should indulge in vandalism and trespass".
It called on "all responsible environmental organisations to publicly dissociate themselves from these actions".
The protest was the latest in a series of such events which began last September during sugar beet trials at Oak Park in Carlow.
Gardai last night denied reports that arrests had been made during the Arthurstown protest. A spokesman said about 50 protesters were from Dublin. Some damage had been done at the farm, when sugar beet plants were removed, but he described it as "a token effort".
There was, he said, "no wholesale criminal damage".
Earlier on Sunday at a meeting at Duncannon Fort, near Arthurstown, Mr Gormley said modified salmon had turned green in Scotland, while unknown toxins and allergens could have "incalculable consequences" for our health in coming years.
Ms Ahern spoke of "Terminator" technology, which genetically disables seed fertility, thus preventing farmers from saving seeds from year to year.
Mr Higgins described the genetic modification of crops as "the most serious and sinister" development since nuclear power.
Last week a group of activists entered the Arthurstown farm and destroyed a one-acre field of the genetically-altered sugar beet. Monsanto had claimed "slight damage" was done. The Duncan
non meeting organisers invited the audience to verify this for themselves.
At least half of those who had attended the meeting went to the field at Arthurstown and, according to local reports, destroyed the remains of the crop first attacked last week, while gardai struggled with the protesters. Monsanto security guards filmed the event from behind a nearby hedge.