TV FAME: From left, Richard, Jessica, Peter and Luke Kingston on ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’ where they scooped €15,000. Photo: Gerard McCarthy

THE High Court has enlarged injunctions against businessman Jerry Beades and his New Land League group which has been protesting over the sale of cattle belonging to a farmer who owes a bank €2.4m.

Mr Beades and members of his group had engaged in protest at the Kingston family farm in Nohoval, Co Cork, which "could not be described as peaceful", Mr Justice Paul Gilligan said.

Some 1,000 cattle owned by Peter and Tracey Kingston, who once won the title of "Ireland's Fittest Family" on RTE, were to be sold on April 12 at an auction on the farm by the Cork County Sheriff Sinead McNamara as part of moves by an ACC-appointed receiver to recover part of the €2.4m debt.

Mr Beades, who is spokesman for the New Land League, put up a Facebook posting about a protest planned for the auction.

The Sherriff sought and was granted an injunction preventing anyone interfering with the auction.

Mr Beades and members of his group turned up outside the farm and the Sheriff said this led to considerable disruption due to interaction between the protesters and those attempting to go into the auction.

Less than half the amount expected from the auction was raised and a number of parties who bid hundreds of thousands at the auction failed to turn up an pay for the animals purchased, the Sheriff said.

It is hoped two of the largest bidders may now buy those cattle and, if not, they can possibly resold by tender process.

However, arising out of a statement issued by the New Land League calling on the Seamen's Union to stop the live export of animals from such sales, the Sheriff was concerned there will be further attempts to disrupt any future potential sale. She sought to enlarge the injunction she already got.

Mr Justice Gilligan said Mr Beades totally refutes the Sheriff's assertions and believes they are an attempt to discredit him because he is a candidate in the Seanad elections.

He had claimed the reason he turned up outside the auction was that he was representing a number of the Kingston's creditors and was not representing the Kingstons at all, the judge said.

The protest on the day could not be described as peaceful although Mr Beades took a different view, he said.

He was satisfied to grant the further orders sought by the Sheriff, pending full hearing of the matter, restraining any interference in

the cattle sale, any threatening or intimidation of those involved in the sale, including bidders, and any interference with collection and

transportation of the cattle from the farm.

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