THE GROUP of about 300 farmers who broke through a Garda cordon at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting near Athlone, Co Westmeath, yesterday made it as far as the door of the hotel where the meeting was taking place.
The farmers had gathered at the Hodson Bay Hotel yesterday morning to let Fianna Fáil TDs know of their anger at cuts in farm spending.
When Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan arrived, the farmers cut a wire barrier and broke through, despite a strong Garda presence, including members of the public order unit.
A number of the farmers made it to the hotel door and were only prevented from entering after a struggle with gardaí.
Addressing the protesters, president of the Irish Farmers’ Association Pádraig Walshe said it was time for the Government to recognise repeated cuts on the farming sector were deeply flawed.
He said a different approach was needed that would help farming through its worst crisis in a generation. The IFA had presented the Government with an alternative savings plan. The IFA claims the plan will more than meet the targets in the McCarthy report, while also maintaining funding for vital farm schemes.
