Head of Oxfordshire slaughterhouse loses family court battle

Nigel Morgan, the director of collapsed abattoir Mutch Meats in Witney, along with several family members, have been locked in a legal dispute with his brother Richard Morgan.

The case went to the High Court in Bristol with Judge Paul Matthews handing down his judgement on Thursday, February 26.

The dispute involved two companies that both Richard and Nigel held 25 per cent stakes in: SMS Farming Limited and S Morgan & Sons Limited.

READ MORE: Troubled Oxfordshire slaughterhouse’s accounts a year late

Court documents show Richard claimed that Nigel and family members excluded him from participation in the management of the companies including by causing the termination of his directorships.

In addition he wished for a loan to SMS totalling £1,863,860 to be returned to him, although this figure was disputed.

Mutch Meats is based in New Close Lane, Witney (Image: Google Maps)

The judge ruled on the side of Richard, and said his shares should be bought out at a fair price and that the loan be repaid.

Case law documents show the judge ruled that this loan was at least £656,112 and ordered an inquiry into whether any more is still owed.

The case also mentioned Mutch Meats, which was placed into administration last summer after a creditor who was owed money filed a winding up petition against the company.

Paul Ellison and Christopher Errington, joint administrators of KRE Corporate Recovery who were appointed, subsequently revealed £15.3 million worth of debts in total.

Bristol Civil Justice Centre was where the Morgans case was based (Image: Google Maps)

This includes £12 million of debts racked up by the Morgan family who took over the family-run abattoir – through S Morgan & Sons Limited – in 2019.

In total, 101 creditors have been listed as being owed money by Mutch Meats, some of which are based in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

The recent High Court case showed Richard did not agree to the purchase as he felt the slaughterhouse would need considerable investment to become profitable.

Judge Paul Matthews (Image: Judicial Office)

Richard had no involvement in the company and the judge said the deterioration in the brothers’ relationship had become apparent by the time of the acquisition.

The former director of the abattoir, Andrew Mutch, was a witness at the proceedings as was his wife Sally Mutch.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire slaughterhouse sale needs ‘transparency’ says MP

Both appeared on behalf of Richard with the judge calling Mr Mutch “straightforward and business-like” and Ms Mutch “truthful”.

On Nigel Morgan, the judge said: “I take into account his lack of good health, but I am afraid that he came across as a bully, who would stoop to using coarse and demeaning language in dealing with others.

“He is plainly the dominant personality in the respondents’ camp, although he denied it.”

Meanwhile the judge reflected that while Richard seemed “slightly embittered” he felt him to be honest.