Cattle from seized Cork farm to go for auction a second time

A second auction to resell up to 500 cattle which belonged to a Co Cork farmer after a lender obtained a judgment against him will take place at his farm on Monday morning.

Two weeks ago, about 150 people turned up at the farm of Peter Kingston (51) at Craden Hill Farm in Nohoval outside Kinsale for the auction of 1,000 animals, being held by sales agent, Denis Barrett on behalf of Cork County Sheriff, Sinead McNamara.

Ms McNamara was executing a High Court order obtained by ACC Loan Management for a judgment of almost €2.5 million against Mr Kingston who, along with three of his children, won Ireland’s fittest family in 2014.

All 1,000 pedigree Holstein cattle were sold at the auction but it later transpired that two bidders who had bought around 500 animals failed to pay for them by the cut-off date of Friday, April 15th, resulting in the animals having to be put back up for sale.

The Irish Times understands that among the bidders who failed to meet the payment deadline were a cattle dealer and Mr Kingston’s elderly father, George who bought Craden Hill farm in the earlier 1970s and built up its reputation as the home of prize winning Holsteins.

Now sales agent, Denis Barrett has confirmed that the 500 or so animals in question will go under the hammer again at Craden Hill Farm on Monday morning but only bidders who can prove they have the money to pay for the animals will be allowed bid at the auction.

“As per the terms and conditions, only those who have pre-registered and provided cleared funds to the agent’s bank will be granted bidder numbers or access to the farm for the auction and interested parties can only bid to the value of their pre-cleared funds.

“Bidders who did not adhere to the terms of the terms and conditions of the original auction will not be allowed to register. However absentee bids with cleared funds on lots will be accepted prior to the auction,” said Mr Barrett in a statement.

The sale of the Kingston herd was the subject of controversy with 30 protestors picketing the sale and Cork County Sheriff going to the High Court to obtain an injunction against campaigner, Jerry Beades and the New Land League from disrupting the auction.

On Friday, the High Court expanded injunctions against Mr Beades and his New Land League group.

Mr Beades and members of his group had engaged in a protest at the Kingston family farm in Nohoval, Co Cork, which “could not be described as peaceful”, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan said.

Mr Beades had claimed the reason he turned up outside the auction was he was representing a number of the Kingston’s creditors and was not representing the Kingstons at all, the judge said.

The protest on the day could not be described as peaceful although Mr Beades took a different view, he said.

He was satisfied to grant the further orders sought by the Sheriff, pending full hearing of the matter, restraining any interference in the cattle sale, any threatening or intimidation of those involved in the sale, including bidders, and any interference with collection and transportation of the cattle from the farm.