A Longford farmer, who was the target of a robbery last Friday night, has blasted car-boot and markets sales for driving rural thefts.

Kevin Egan from Clondra, Co Longford, had equipment stolen from his premise between 8.45pm on Friday night and 8.30am on Saturday morning. The full-time suckler farmer believes that farmers buying secondhand equipment at car-boot sales have a lot to answer for.

“No farmer sells their tools. Farmers only sells their tools for a liquidation sale or when they are dead. So when other farmers goes into car-boot sales and buys secondhand tools, it is at the expense of another farmer’s suffering they are doing so,” Egan said.

While the equipment stolen from Egan’s farm has an estimated value of €1,500, he strongly disputes this.

“It is going to cost me about €4,000 to replace all the equipment I just lost. I am still cleaning out my shed to see what was robbed. It is sickening,” he said.

“I am a full-time farmer, and half my Single Farm Payment has just been robbed. I can do nothing without that equipment. This could put me under,” Egan lamented.

This is the second occasion that Egan, who’s farm is located just off the N5, has been targeted. On a previous occasion, a mower and bale grab was also taken.

Gardaí are currently investigating the theft.

The list of equipment taken to date

Three Metabo grinders.

A Tanaka chainsaw.

Fifty to 60 spanners from 6mm to 50mm.

A tool box containing two half-inch socket sets and one set of three-quarter-inch socket sets.

A 20-year-old blue compressor.

A silver and green Liscop cattle clippers.

A yellow Karcher washer.

A strimmer.

140 amp Invert welder.

A slash hook.