A cross-Border group of gardaí, PSNI officers and the investigative units of the Departments of Agriculture in both jurisdictions has been established to investigate the recent spate of cattle rustling in Border counties.
Minister of State for Rural Development Ann Phelan said the North-South liaison group was investigating thefts, while a recent Garda and Department of Agriculture investigation uncovered an illegal abattoir near the Border.
The Minister was responding to Fianna Fáil Louth TD Seamus Kirk who said he had had “too many broken-hearted farmers standing in my constituency clinic complaining” about cattle theft. “We seem to be able to do nothing about it.”
Ms Phelan said that since the beginning of 2012 just 555 cattle were reported stolen out of a total population of 6.9 million.
Intensification
Mr Kirk said there had been a “serious intensification of activity in this most nefarious area” recently, affecting farmers in Louth, Monaghan and Armagh.
It was costing farmers tens of thousands of euro and in many cases the top-quality cattle were bought with bank loans, he said.
Mr Kirk suggested that the catering industry could be using the meat and there should be a system in place where “individuals trading in the area must be compelled to vouch for the source of their meat”.
Ms Phelan said it was an issue mainly for the Garda and called on people to be vigilant, which she said could reduce the impact.
