Employees at Natural Dairies Ltd in Convoy, Co Donegal, were put on protective notice yesterday as dairy farmers continued their blockade in defiance of an interim injunction granted to the Competition Authority on Wednesday.
The 24 employees at the milk processing plant were served with the notice as protesting farmers outside the plant and the Irish Farmers' Association were warned by letter that they would be held responsible for losses incurred by the company since the blockade began on Tuesday.
The letter stated that "your action and the action of your organisation (IFA) has resulted in serious and ongoing losses and placed this company in severe difficulties with its customer base.
"Mullaney & Co Solicitors have been instructed to hold you, your colleagues and the organisation responsible for all losses accruing at this company and the outcome re its workforce".
It is believed the Competition Authority is to return to the High Court today with evidence to suggest the IFA is directly involved in the protest.
The farmers have blocked access to the plant to protest about the supply of low-price milk to one of the State's biggest supermarket chains. The dairy is the main supplier for Dunnes Stores, which is selling a two-litre carton of milk at 86 pence, which farmers fear will lead to a reduction in the price they receive from the processor.