THIS WEEK’S report on Europe’s sugar reform appears to have taken everyone by surprise, including Greencore.

The food company exited sugar-processing in 2006 with the closure of its Mallow plant, as part of a major Europe-wide restructuring of the industry.

That move generated a lot of anger among farmers at the time and led to Greencore and the government fighting in the courts over the distribution of €145 million in EU compensation.

Greencore won the day and probably thought that would be that, so to speak.

This week, a report from the EU Court of Auditors concluded that the European Commission botched its restructuring of the sugar industry and that there probably was no need to close the Mallow facility after all.

One thing is for sure: the old plant at Mallow won’t be cranking up again for action.

The facilities have been bulldozed as part of a multi- million remediation plan agreed by Greencore with the European Commission. It now lies idle, a monument to the folly of the commission’s reform.

Greencore has also indefinitely shelved plans to redevelop the site, which is close to Mallow town. Such was its potential that developer Liam Carroll splashed out many millions buying a blocking stake in Greencore before his own empire crashed.

The anticipated property windfall is unlikely to ever materialise.

Mallow has lost out on the double and it’s left a sour taste in many mouths.