ABP Food Group facing High Court law suit

Louth-based ABP Food Group is being sued for alleged defamation by Martin McAdam of McAdam Food Products Ltd.

The company, which is owned by local millionaire Larry Goodman, has its headquarters in Ardee and is a former sponsor of the Louth GAA team.

In the High Court proceedings, Monaghan meat trader McAdam has claimed that ABP deliberately made “false and malicious allegations” about him and his business to deflect media attention at the height of the horse meat controversy last year.

Mr McAdam said he did not supply the Ballybay-based Silvercrest plant – which was found to have 29% horse DNA in the meat of a frozen burger – with meat that tested positive for horse DNA.

Commenting to the media in recent days, Mr McAdam said he wanted to bring the legal action against ABP “as soon as the courts allow, so therefore I hope it could be spring or early summer when the case can be heard.

ABP Food chief executive Paul Finnerty said the company would “vigorously” defend that action and told The Irish Times that ABP had not been sued by any other firm in connection with the horse meat incident.

Fairy horse returned to Carlingford

Kevin Woods with the fairy horse

A gang who stole a fairy horse from Carlingford have returned it.

However, owner Kevin Woods – who warned they would be cursed for stealing it – says the curse won’t be lifted until they also return a swiped cement mixer.

The fairy horse was stolen from outside a leprechaun cave at the weekend.

Leprechaun whisperer Kevin Woods, who owns the horse, said in The Irish Sun newspaper at the time that those who took it would be cursed.

However, he said they would still risk warts appearing in “tricky” spots over the theft from his folklore park in Carlingford.

Gardai confirmed the Irish Sun’s report on the disappearance was instrumental in the three-foot fairy horse being recovered this week.

Kevin said: “I was delighted to hear it had been found and I believe it was purposely left at St Bridget’s shrine in Faughart because they knew it was cursed.”

He added: “I got a call to say it was seen at the shrine by a woman who had read in the Irish Sun newspaper about it being taken. I was delighted.

“However I don’t believe the curse will be lifted until the cement mixer which was stolen at the same time is returned to where it should be.”

Kevin added: “The curse on those who took it is one of blindness and warts that appear in what we will call tricky places.”

The fairy horse is being kept in a secure location by Gardaí who have forensically examined it for clues to the theft.

Previously: Fairy horse stolen from Carlingford

Over €120,000 spent by county council on dealing with stray horses

Recent figures published in The Irish Independent have shown that Louth County Council has paid out over €120,000 in the last five years to either put down or rehome 128 stray horses.

In total, €120,544 has been spent by the council on horses since 2008 – a sum that works out at €941.75 per horse.

In the last five years, 66 horses have been put down in the area, with a further 62 having been either reclaimed or rehomed.