Three sheep on a Co Carlow farm have had cable ties tied to their legs over the last three weeks.

Niamh Bailey from Tullow farms sheep and sucklers with her father Padraic and told the Irish Farmers Journal that the cable ties were put on the sheep on three different occasions.

“We thought the first time that it was just a coincidence, then we saw it the second time and third time. We thought it was the same thing that’s happening with dogs around the country,” she said, referencing that posts and gates have been marked by thieves where dogs are to be stolen from.

Luckily no lasting damage was caused to the sheep. \ Niamh Bailey

“It was pot-luck we spotted the first one, the second time we spotted it we were selling lambs and the third time it happened we were keeping any eye out for it.”

One cable tie was tied on one leg of three ewes. Luckily the Baileys found the sheep in time before any damage was caused and has moved the sheep from the field they were in.

It’s such a strange thing, whatever it’s about

“With the good weather, we live by a river and people have been down swimming. Our ewes are well handled, so they’re used to people.

“We think it’s young lads. We’re not that far from Tullow town, we’re probably the closest farm to the town. It’s such a strange thing, whatever it’s about.

“It’s so unnecessary and cruel, tying cable ties around an animals leg to cut off circulation is the height of scum,” she said.

Niamh Bailey said it was a ‘cruel’ thing to do to the sheep. \ Niamh Bailey.

Her father has told other farmers of the issue, so they are aware of it.

“We’ve often had issues with dogs killing lambs over the years and we had cattle set on fire over 15 years ago. We’ve a field in the town. It was Halloween and they petrol-bombed a cow.

“The gardaí handled it at the time,” she said. Bailey is appealing to other farmers in the area to keep an eye on their stock.

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