The sheep disappeared from the farm of Joseph and Niamh Byrne in Ballintober, Hollywood, Co Wicklow, three weeks ago. This Wednesday, the farmers told the Irish Farmers Journal that gardaí had helped them recover 23 of the 50 missing animals after members of the public reported them straying on roads and in tillage fields in Co Kildare over the past few days.

“They called us to collect 10, but as they drove around they kept finding more,” she said. “We got 23 back, there are still 27 missing.”

Tags removed

While all the animals recovered were lambs, those still missing are nearly all ewes.

Although the recovered lambs had their tags removed or had not yet been tagged, Niamh said she could identify them as they were of the rare Jacob breed and had the farm’s unique markings. All were in good health.

Niamh added that CCTV footage from a camera at Hollywood community centre had captured a livestock lorry travelling empty and returning with Jacob sheep on 3 October. She said the recording was now with investigating gardaí.

Niamh thanked the members of the public who had spotted the sheep and alerted the gardaí after reading about the alleged theft in the Irish Farmers Journal and on social media. She asked anyone finding more of the missing animals to contact Naas garda station on 045-884 300 or Blessington garda station on 045-857 620.

Full coverage: rural crime

Sheep taken from Wicklow farm found in Kildare

Some of the 50 sheep allegedly stolen from a farm earlier this month were spotted along Co Kildare roads, but many are still missing.