As controversy grew over the eviction of a Co Waterford family from their home and farm, the IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, yesterday sharply criticised the actions of the Irish Nationwide Building Society, whose agents have taken possession of the property.
Mr Donnelly said in a statement that the "extreme action" by the society was "unwarranted and unacceptable". He added: "It is totally unacceptable that a widow and her family are put out on the side of the road by a financial institution in this day and age."
In a letter to the building society's managing director, Mr Michael Fingleton, Mr Donnelly said the society should vacate the property immediately to allow discussions to take place to resolve the issue.
A public relations spokesman for Irish Nationwide said last night: "Client confidentiality prevents the society from going into details of this matter." He added, however, that the society would be responding to the letter received from the IFA president.
A number of men, describing themselves only as "security", have remained in occupation of the Murphy family home and farm at Whitestown, Clonea Power, around the clock since Wednesday.
Mrs Anne Murphy vacated the house on that afternoon after being served with court orders secured by Irish Nationwide, who initiated proceedings over nonrepayment of a loan granted to her late husband, Milo, in 1989.
Although the original loan was just under £70,000, accumulated interest, surcharges and legal costs are said to have brought the sum now due to about £198,000.
A public meeting convened at a few hours notice in Clonea school hall on Wednesday night was attended by up to 100 neighbours and friends of the Murphys from the farming community in the area.
There were repeated expressions of shock and anger, and demands that, in the first place, Mrs Murphy should be reinstated immediately in her home, and negotiations should be opened with the aim of agreeing a reasonable schedule of repayments for the loan.
An action committee was formed to back the family's case, and it is understood a support fund has also been opened.
Although Mrs Murphy's sons, Pat and Bill, are technically now excluded from the farm, they have been invited in several times by the security personnel to feed and milk the herd, which remains on the farm. A vet retained by the family was also allowed in yesterday to inspect the herd.
The 170 cattle there remain the property of the Murphys.
Although a separate court order for the removal of the stock from the farm was granted to Irish Nationwide, the family has declined to co-operate in their removal and local supporters gathered at the farm gates when several lorries made a brief appearance on Wednesday morning.
Other supporters placed a caravan outside the farm entrance yesterday so the Murphy brothers and friends can maintain a constant presence in the immediate vicinity.
Meanwhile, relays of IFA members from the local community mounted pickets outside a branch office of the Irish Nationwide Building Society in Waterford yesterday. They carried placards with slogans such as: "INBS evict widow and family".
No indication has been given of the society's intentions in regard to the farm and the stock. Speculation was expressed at Wednesday night's meeting that there might be an attempt to sell the milk quota, which amounts to about 75,000 gallons, but the legal situation in regard to this is unclear and speakers urged that any such move should be resisted.