Gardaí in Belturbet are investigating the theft of 17 sheep from two neighbouring farms near Redhills, Co Cavan.

The theft occurred between noon on Wednesday 13 January, 2021 and 9am on Thursday 14 January, 2021.

One farmer had 14 sheep stolen and the other had three sheep stolen, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“The matter is under investigation and gardaí are appealing to any persons who can assist them to contact gardaí in Belturbet on 049-952 2122,” the spokesperson said.

Mules and Suffolk crosses

Shane Brady had 14 of his Mule in-lamb ewes stolen from his yard. “They’re worth around €220 to €250 a head,” he said.

Brady has 180 ewes altogether and is due to start lambing the first batch at the end of January.

His neighbour, Kevin Smith, had three of his Suffolk-cross in-lamb ewes taken on the same day.

“We looked at them Wednesday morning up until around 11 o’clock, then we went back the next morning at nine o’clock and the three were gone. It’s on an outfarm. We had 50 in the field. They’re around 80kg each and they have a green and red marking on their rump and a purple dot on the centre of their back.

“They’re a quiet sheep and there’s a reward if we get the sheep back,” Smith said.