This is a subscriber-only article
The 31 lambs and 21 ewes were taken from Croghan area of Boyle sometime in the last two weeks.
The sheep belonged to farmer Colin Barber, who raised the alarm when he became aware of the decreased numbers in the flock after inspecting them in the shed.
“I was drafting the lambs from the ewes in the shed when I realised that there was stock missing. It was only after counting them up I realised just how many were missing.” He explained.
“You check them every day but it is difficult to count them unless they are in the yard. It was two weeks since they were last in, so it could have been anytime in the last two weeks this happened,” he continued.
Shock
The stolen lambs weighed between 35kg and 45kg and most were ready for slaughter. Barber estimates that the theft will leave him up to €6,000 out of pocket and the sheer scale of the theft has shocked the sheep farmer.
“I put a lot into my stock. I work hard on my livestock and this is the last thing I needed. It is a kick in the teeth. I’m gutted to be honest about it. I thought I was having a bad dream.” Barber said.
Barber told the Irish Farmers Journal that marts and factories in the area have been notified about the theft and while he acknowledges the effort of the local Gardaí in the matter, he admits having no expectation of the stock being returned.
More gardaí needed
The Roscommon IFA chairman, John Hanley shared similar outrage as Barber on the issue. Hanley said there needs to be a greater presence from the law on the ground to deter criminals.
“A complete stranger doesn’t come in unless they have knowledge of an area. Local people need to be on the lookout for this activity. If they see something make sure it is highlighted,” he said.
“We need Gardaí to be more visible on the ground. We need increased number on the ground as proposed in the partnership for government. We need to see this increased sooner rather than later to reduce this activity,” Hanley concluded.
SHARING OPTIONS: