IFA offers reward for information on 100 stolen livestock

A reward has been offered for information leading to the return of 100 animals stolen from a farm in the midlands.

Niall Dillon, who owns a farm at Cornaher between Kilbeggan and Tyrrellspass, Co Westmeath, said he had gone up to his property on Thursday afternoon to discover the lock cut on the gate.

Seventy-five cattle and 25 sheep were taken in the raid, which Mr Dillon said would have taken a number of hours.

The farm is located close to the N6 on the old Dublin Road.

He told RTÉ News that CCTV footage from the local village showed a truck with a single trailer coming into the village and leaving about two hours later. It is believed the livestock were loaded onto the trailer.

The animals were taken some time between 9pm on Wednesday night and 1.15pm on Thursday.

Christa Dillon, Mr Dillon's wife, said the couple had been building up the stock for the last 10 years.

“It will take a long time to replace them or start again,” she said.

The animals taken included nine cows, nine calves and about 15 Charolais continental crossbreeds. All were tagged and are fully traceable.

IFA reward

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) has offered a reward for “significant information” leading to the return of the livestock.

Paddy Donnelly, vice-chairman of the IFA's national livestock committee, described the theft as a severe loss.

A Department of Agriculture spokesman said its investigation division is liaising with gardaí on the theft of livestock in Co Westmeath.

“Stolen cattle cannot be legally traded in the State, as all bovines must bear official ear tags, be properly registered and be associated with the herd of the individual moving or selling the animal on this department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) database.

“When cattle are reported as stolen to this department, they are marked as stolen on foot of a Garda report.

“If these animals are presented anywhere in the State for sale, slaughter or export, they are checked against the database and will be rejected at these outlets . . . and an investigation initiated”

Gardaí in Athlone investigating the case have appealed for anyone with any information to contact them at 090-6498550, the Garda confidential line at 1800-666111 or at any Garda station.