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Over 100 stacked bales were slashed with a sharp implement overnight on Sunday 14 October in Ballyburden, Ballincollig, Co Cork.
Christor O’Crualaoi made the discovery when he arrived at work at his meat factory beside the field on Monday morning. The bales had been sold, ready for collection.
“I don’t know whether it was just vandalism or an attack on me,” O’Crualaoi told the Irish Farmers Journal. “I didn’t fall out with any farmer over the price of cattle even though cattle are not great at the moment and I haven’t fallen out with any of my staff. I don’t think it was young fellas acting the maggot because it’s one neat slit, it seems fairly calculated.”
While there is CCTV around the factory, none of the camera are pointed at the field. O’Crualaoi said that Gardai are investigating.
In the meantime, he has wrapped silage plastic around them manually to repair the damage.
The bales were made a month ago.
“I presume the price will change now, they’re not the same product as they were. The bales could have been open for 12 to 15 hours.”
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