More than 100 Christmas tree growers knew they were fighting a losing battle but were determined yesterday to make the collapse of European Forestry Growers as uncomfortable as possible for its directors.
They came from far afield, with representatives of growers in Kerry, Tipperary, Offaly, Wexford and Galway, leading the charge. They were enraged to have their path blocked by two men at the door. "Get out of the way," those at the front yelled, amid encouragement from all and sundry to barge their way through.
Next someone threatened to call the Garda. "Go ahead, call them," the growers urged. After 10 minute they were finally let up the stairs, only to find the two directors, Mr Conor Mohan and Mr Leo Mohan, were locked into
a room along with their proposed liquidator and solicitor. The creditors - mostly suppliers and some growers who had secured court judgments against the company - knocked. The growers chatted among themselves along the stairs. "Where are you from? How much do they owe you?" they asked. None were optimistic that they would ever see their money again.
It soon transpired that the Gardai had indeed been called. Four i officers made their way through the crowd but quickly decided they had better things to do and left.
Some 30 minutes later, a delegation including IFA Farm Forestry chairman, Mr Padraic Divilly, and the IFA proposed liquidator, Mr Aidan O'Connell, were allowed in to begin negotiations.
They emerged confirming what the growers had already figured out for themselves, that the directors would not face them.
According to Mr O'Connell, the IFA urged the directors to hold the meeting in a bigger room, guaranteeing an orderly meeting. They refused. "That is unfortunately the way they feel about it," Mr O'Connell told the assembled crowd.
He also said the directors had agreed to accept him as liquidator but only on condition that they didn't have to confront the growers. "They do not accept that growers are creditors," he said.
The creditors meeting then got under way - some two hours later than scheduled. A group of around 15 creditors along with IFA representative were admitted. They were the only ones to lay eyes on the two directors.
