A public meeting is to be held by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) in north county Dublin to discuss how to tackle a rural crime “scourge”. The meeting will be held on Wednesday 22 October in the Carnegie Court Hotel in Swords following a number of criminal incidents targeted at farmers and the rural community.

Attacks

Last month, a farmer was targeted in an unprovoked and violent attack when he challenged men trespassing on his land. In another incident, a farmer discovered men illegally dumping on his land and was run over by a van which struck the field gate as the farmer called gardaí. In the same area, a farmer approached men with dogs on his land and was assaulted and threatened at knifepoint.

Dublin IFA chair Philip Maguire urged people to attend the meeting. He said: “The IFA has been proactive in the fight against rural crime. But this needs to be a combined effort. We believe that if we work together we can better tackle this scourge.”

The meeting will be attended by An Garda Síochána and Barry Carey, the IFA’s crime prevention officer.Local public representatives, Fingal County Council and the Joint Policing Committee have been invited to attend the meeting also.

Taskforce

Addressing the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality earlier this week, the IFA called for the establishment of a dedicated rural crime taskforce. In the UK, a similar unit has already been established.

IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy said: “We have seen a worrying increase in the hunting of hares [illegal under the Wildlife Act] and gangs with their dogs are trespassing on farmlands.

"When approached by farmers and landowners they are hostile, and in some cases are violent. They worry livestock, damage fences and leave gates open and animals distressed. This problem needs to be addressed urgently,” he said.

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