Seamus McGrath, sheep and tillage farmer, Oldtown, Co Dublin

“We’ve had a number of incidents over the last few years. We had property stolen seven years ago – quad bikes, lawnmowers, tools. There was lurchers two days beforehand in the fields and we believe that guys were stalking the place out, having a look around to see what we have.

“Since then, we’ve had five lambs stolen. Last Easter 12 months on Holy Thursday, one of the lambs was slaughtered in the field. The other four were taken alive.

“We’ve had other incidents in the area, with the same thing happening. We need something done about it. We want more gardaí in the area. We need more commitment from the gardaí for our rural areas.”

James McGrane, sheep farmer, north Co Dublin

“I’ve had a number of issues, going back now to last April. I had a Toyota Land Cruiser robbed on my farm. Just the weekend gone by, I’ve had livestock theft on my farm; two sheep were stolen.

“We are on the outskirts of Balbriggan and closer to the town of Balbriggan there has been a number of livestock stolen and some of them have actually been slaughtered in the fields.

“The technique of some of these guys, it seems to be done professionally. It’s not just an amateur job. They either have come with the skill of slaughtering or maybe they work in the industry. Nobody knows, but there has been remains found in different jurisdictions – the theft might happen in Dublin and the byproducts of the animal could be found in Co Meath.”