Farmers have been urged to be vigilant for suspicious activity at night after a series of sheep thefts across farms in west Wicklow.
Reports from farms in Shillelagh and Dunlavin say they have suffered substantial sheep thefts from their flocks in recent months.
The garda are investigating two separate thefts of a large number of sheep in recent months. In the first incident, 102 sheep were taken from Shillelagh between 15 November and 20 December. All the animals had a red mark at the back of their neck.
At Friarshill in Dunlavin, 44 sheep were taken from a flock of 360 on a farm between 1 November and 1 January. The animals had a ‘PB’ marking on their right flank.
There can be a delay in farmers contacting the gardai about stolen sheep as they may think the animals have wandered off.
IFA county chair for Kildare / west Wicklow Tomas O’Connor described the reports were “very worrying for farmers.”
Extra measures have been put in place at checkpoints to respond to the issue and people are being asked to report any suspicious activity.
LSL News.