Farmer has 75 cattle and 25 sheep stolen in raid

Niall and Christa Dillon from Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath made contact with the Irish Farmers Journal in order to try and help get information that might lead to the recovery some of the animals.

“I was up in the factory early on Thursday morning and I was making my way to the outfarm when I saw the padlock of the gate into the place cut,” Niall explained.

“I rang a neighbour to come up with me in case there was somebody there. When we got up to the place we saw that there was only four cattle left in the field. Seventy five cattle had been taken along with 25 ewes,” Niall said.

The cattle were nine cows and calves, 40 yearlings and the rest were animals over two years of age. They were a mixture of Charolais, Limousin and Hereford cattle.

“We called the guards and the Department (of Agriculture) straight away. I’ve been calling everyone I can think of to try and get the message out there in the hope that someone saw something,” Niall added.

Niall believes that there was as many as three trucks involved as CCTV footage in Tyrellspass saw at least one double-double articulated truck driving in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Niall and Christa are from Kibeggan but rent the land halfway between Tyrellspass and Kilbeggan. Niall explained the pain of losing stock reared from birth is hard to take.

“All those cattle bar 12 black whiteheads, were reared from birth here. We saw them grow up and we brought them along. It’s beyond my thinking as to how anyone could take them from us. It’s our livelihood here,” Niall said. It is estimated that the stock were worth in the region of €100,000.

“All we have left is 20 cows, 10 heifers and four bullocks. Our herd has been destroyed,” Niall concluded.

Gardaí in Kilbeggan are investigating the theft and anyone with information can make contact with them on 057 933 2102.