A businessman claiming to be a former associate of Mr Pascal Phelan in the Irish beef trade yesterday got a temporary High Court order which restrains Mr Phelan reducing his assets in this State below €1.5 million.

Mr William Maher, with an address at Barrack Hill, Weeden, Northamptonshire, England, issued legal proceedings nine years ago, claiming he entered into a joint-venture agreement with Mr Phelan in 1984 and had a 15 per cent interest in Master Meats, the meat processing enterprise founded by Mr Phelan.

Counsel for Mr Maher said that around 1986 Mr Phelan sold part of the Master Meats group of companies but failed to account for Mr Maher's 15 per cent interest.

The rest of the companies were disposed of in 1989 and it is alleged Mr Phelan failed to take account of Mr Maher's share.

Mr Phelan denies Mr Maher's claims.

In February this year a 14-year-old legal battle between Mr Phelan and Mr Larry Goodman was settled.

The disputes dated back to the takeover of Master Meats companies by Mr Goodman in 1987.

Mr Maher's counsel told Mr Justice Aindrias O Caoimh yesterday that it had been reported that Mr Phelan had, since the end of the court proceedings in February, sold his Co Kilkenny home for more than €6 million and Mr Maher feared Mr Phelan might dissipate his assets before the hearing of Mr Maher's action.

Counsel said there was a risk that Mr Phelan intended to remove his assets and thereby evade any judgment that the court might give.

Mr Maher believed Mr Phelan intended to leave the State and go to South Africa.

Mr Justice O Caoimh granted an interim injunction to continue until June 10th which restrains Mr Phelan or anyone acting on his behalf from reducing his assets below €1.5 million.