An application by the Irish Sugar Company for a continuing injunction to prevent steps being taken to organise a withdrawal of supplies of sugar beet to its plants is being opposed by the Irish Farmers Association. The hearing continues today at the High Court.
Earlier this month, ISL got a temporary High Court order restraining named IFA members from taking steps which could lead to farmers withdrawing supplies from the company.
ISL's company secretary Mr Patrick Witherow said that unless there was an immediate resumption of supply, the company would find itself with no raw materials to produce finished product to meet customer demand in the coming year.
The application is being heard by Mr Justice O'Donovan. At first yesterday, the case went before Mr Justice Thomas Smyth, but lawyers for the IFA objected to him hearing it when he stated that he owned shares in Greencore.
It then went to Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns but he said he felt he should not deal with it because Mr David Dilger, chief executive of Greencore, was well-known to him.