22/08/2016
Farmers speak of trauma and fears for their families after thefts
Almost 30,000 incidents of crimes and thefts reported to An Garda by farmers since 2010
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Garda detective Eugene O’Sullivan and Robin Talbot, a farmer affected by theft, during the launch of an initiative to raise awareness of farm related crime. Photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins
Garda detective Eugene O’Sullivan and Robin Talbot, a farmer affected by theft, during the launch of an initiative to raise awareness of farm related crime. Photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins
Farmers have spoken of the ongoing trauma and fears for their families after being robbed in often isolated farmsteads.
Launching a joint campaign with the Garda, Crimestoppers and advertising website Done Deal, members of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) said unscrupulous locals were selling information about farmyards and farm families to criminal gangs.
The gangs would then target the farmyards removing tools, equipment and even cattle, usually at night.
Abbeyleix farmer Robin Talbot whose farmyard was robbed on June 23rd last, said his workshop was targeted in one such raid with a 4x4 and tools, including a chainsaw and hedge trimmers, apparently being stolen to order.
He said his vehicle was subsequently recovered after it had been used to ram a Garda car.
Mr Talbot said a lingering worry was the realisation that had he woken and interrupted those breaking in, he could have been seriously harmed.
He said it was clear that the raiders had prior information about the workings of his farm and the movements of his family.
For a number of weeks after he found it difficult to check the farm at night and when accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter on his rounds is still wondering who may be watching and “who was watching” in the past.
Mr Talbot asked farmers and others not to buy tools cheaply at fairs or through advertising sites.
He said they might appear cheaper but the price to the farming community was great.
Liam Dunne who also farms near Abbeyleix also lost a 4x4 and equipment in a break in said he was certain of the identity of the “spotter” who had tipped off criminals to his movements and the kind of equipment they might expect on his farm.
He said speaking to other farmers who have been robbed in the area, he and they were able to make a record of who visited their farms and were sure of the identity of the person who passed on the information to criminal gangs.
