A Limerick farmer who went on hunger strike for four days over the Government's failure to process Reps payments for more than 6,000 farmers ended his protest yesterday after he was taken to hospital.
Donal O'Brien from Palleskenry had been occupying the Department of Agriculture offices in Raheen, Limerick, since last Thursday, and began a hunger strike last Saturday.
The father of four was taken to hospital on the advice of his family doctor. Mr O'Brien was not admitted but was sent home where he ended his hunger strike after admitting he felt a little "groggy".
The farmer, who claims he is owed €8,700 in Reps payments from the Department of Agriculture, is adamant, however, that his action was not in vain.
Reps is a scheme designed to reward farmers for carrying out work in an environmentally friendly manner. Mr O'Brien claims he has not received any payment since last August.
"My protest has not been in vain and it has resulted in the Department of Agriculture putting a lot of pressure on the EU to restore the old system of payments," he said.
Michael Roche, county chairman of Limerick IFA, insisted that farmers were determined to continue to fight for the money they are owed and he described what had happened with the Reps payments as a "breach of contract" by the Department of Agriculture.
Mr Roche said he was glad that Mr O'Brien had ended his hunger strike and said it was a sad situation that the Co Limerick man felt forced to take such a drastic action.