Judge demands sworn undertaking after repeated non-compliance

A judge has stated that dealing with three separate legal proceedings in the last eight months against Shannon-based Halal meat operator, Asba Meats, “has all the hallmarks of the wheels coming off the wagon”.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made the comment as he made a decree against Asba Meats Ltd for €22,614 concerning an unpaid Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) unfair dismissal award to Shahid Kamal. In response to the remark, solicitor Colum Doherty for Asba Meats said that “the intention is to maintain the wagon”.

Stay granted pending payment

Judge Gabbett said that he would put a stay on his decree of €22,614, stating it could be vacated if the money is paid over. The judge stated it’s very straightforward—they just need money, it’s a simple matter of paying bills. The owner of Asba Meats Ltd, Tarequr Rahman Khan, has previously failed to comply with a direction from Judge Gabbett to attend court. When Mr Doherty said that Mr Khan is in court to attend to all matters concerning Asba Meats, Judge Gabbett commented “At long last.”

Multiple creditors pursue outstanding debts

Solicitor Stiofán Fitzpatrick was representing Mr Kamal plus Town and Country Meats Ltd in a separate case against Asba Meats where Town and Country Meats obtained an order in the circuit court on June 4th 2024, to allow the company to recover €16,181 from Asba Meats, along with €750 in costs plus expenses.

On Asba Meats, Mr Fitzpatrick told Judge Gabbett that the difficulty he has is that heretofore the bona fides of the company have not been borne out. Fitzpatrick stated that agreements have been reached, handshakes have been made, promises have been made, yet they’re back in court again.

Court demands serious engagement

Judge Gabbett told Mr Doherty that his client was in court once before, is not taking the matter seriously at all, stating that’s the problem. He said the court is about resolving disputes, when there’s no engagement with the system, there’s a significant problem. Judge Gabbett told the court he’s not going to be messed around anymore, asking Mr Doherty if his client was willing to give a sworn undertaking on the Koran to turn up at every court hearing in the future. Mr Doherty said that he was, with Mr Khan getting into the witness box to give his sworn undertaking.

Adjournment extends payment deadline

Judge Gabbett said that he wanted the case concerning Town and Country Meats to be moved on, adjourning the case to Ennis District Court on Wednesday, October 15th for mention.

Judge Gabbett told Mr Doherty that his client has had over a year to deal with the matter. A cheque, bank draft or cash—any currency will do as long as it’s paid. His client has to appear in court, daily if needs be.

Financial distress threatens halal supply chain

The Asba Meats case exemplifies challenges facing small-scale halal meat processors competing within mainstream markets. The accumulation of unpaid employee awards plus supplier debts suggests cash flow problems potentially stemming from thin margins, fierce competition from larger processors, or management difficulties navigating regulatory compliance plus financial obligations simultaneously.

The judge’s extraordinary requirement for a sworn religious undertaking—asking Mr Khan to swear on the Koran—represents an unusual judicial intervention reflecting frustration with repeated non-compliance while acknowledging the defendant’s religious identity. Whether such religiously-specific oaths carry greater weight than standard legal undertakings remains debatable, though the symbolic gesture underscores judicial determination to secure compliance.

For Muslim consumers plus businesses relying on halal suppliers, Asba Meats’ financial troubles raise concerns about supply chain stability within niche religious food markets. Small halal processors often serve as vital links between Muslim communities plus larger food distribution networks, their failures potentially disrupting access to religiously compliant products while damaging trust in halal certification systems if operational difficulties compromise food safety or employment standards.

Original Article:

Deegan, G. (2025, October 17). Cases against halal meat operator has ‘hallmarks of wheels coming off the wagon’.Waterford News. Retrieved from https://www.waterford-news.ie/cases-against-halal-meat-operator-has-hallmarks-of-wheels-coming-off-the-wagon_arid-74035.html