A case taken by the Competition Authority against six farmers for allegedly obstructing the free trade of wheat was adjourned at Drogheda District Court yesterday because a key witness for the prosecution did not turn up.
Mr Paul McDermott, for the Competition Authority, told Judge Flann Brennan that the authority's case hung on the evidence of Mr Richard Pringle. He is associated with the company behind the shipment of wheat at the centre of the proceedings.
He had been served with a witness summons to appear at the special sitting of the court yesterday but did not attend.
The judge heard that a solicitor for Mr Pringle had informed the solicitor for the authority that his client would be in court, but not until 2 p.m.
However, it also emerged that Mr Pringle's solicitor had written to the authority saying his client was withdrawing his statement and wanted confirmation that he would not be required in court.
The case, alleging breaches of the Competition Act, 2002, was taken against Mr Fintan Conway, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, who is secretary of the IFA grain committee; Mr Ruaidhrí Deasy, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, deputy president of the IFA; Mr Colm McDonnell, Ardee, Co Louth; Mr George O'Brien, Tullyallen, Co Louth; Mr Raymond O'Malley, Ardee, Co Louth, who is Louth county chairman of the IFA; and Mr Patrick Harrington, Minane Bridge, Co Cork, the IFA's national grain committee chairman.
They are alleged to have breached the Act on August 31st, 2002, when around 400 farmers converged on Drogheda Port to object to the shipment of wheat from Britain.
It is the first prosecution taken by the authority under the Act, which provides for fines of up to €3,000 and/or six months in jail.
The case was adjourned for mention only at the weekly sitting of the court on October 3rd.