Rural crime: ‘farmers require greater protection’

Farmers require greater protection than is being afforded to them at present by the gardaí, Dublin Bay South TD Jim O’Callaghan has said.

In the Dáil this week, O’Callaghan told Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan that many farmers live in fear of the threat and the reality of crime.

“Their legitimate concern is that people are coming on to their property to see if there is any valuable equipment on it and with a view to returning subsequently to try to obtain that equipment. This is something that the minister, as a rural deputy, will know is happening and other rural deputies in this house tell me that it is happening frequently.

“There may be trespass-related provisions on the Statute Book but, unfortunately, they are not being used by members of An Garda Síochána and they are not effective for farmers,” he said.

Trespassing

He said that one particular issue affecting farmers, which was raised to him by the IFA, is that if farmers identify people trespassing on their land, they cannot avail of the criminal law.

“Farmers find that when people trespass on their land, they have no remedy in the criminal law. When they contact members of An Garda Síochána, they are told that officers can only intervene if there is a threat to commit a criminal offence or if criminal damage has been done. In my constituency or that of any Dublin deputy, if I found someone in my back garden, I would call the gardaí immediately.

“I suspect that gardaí would regard that person as having sought to enter my house and would arrest him or her on suspicion of intending to burgle my house. However, a different law appears to apply to people who are on farmland,” he said.

Government response

In response to O’Callaghan’s comments, Minister Flanagan said that he wanted to assure the house that rural crime in general is a key focus for An Garda Síochána.

“There is a relentless pursuit on the part of the force of those responsible for crime in rural areas. I remain very much committed to a vigorous and comprehensive response to burglary and theft.

“I will speak to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to see if there are issues that might form the basis of a review as envisaged by the deputy."