Leitrim farmers urged to stay vigilant as gangs target rural communities

Sinn Féin TD for Sligo-Leitrim Martin Kenny has said rural Gardaí are under-resourced to deal with the scale of theft targeting farms, following a Prime Time investigation on Feb 19 into organised gangs stealing vehicles, machinery, tools and livestock.

The RTÉ programme showed CCTV footage of thefts from farmyards and sheds, including quad bikes, trailers, jeeps and high-value equipment, much of it taken under cover of darkness. It also highlighted the growing use of security technology — from CCTV to GPS tracking and drones — as farmers try to protect property and livestock.

Speaking on the programme, Deputy Kenny said farmers in Leitrim and across the north-west are increasingly worried, not only about financial losses but about safety and the feeling that rural crime is outpacing the resources available to tackle it.

“Rural Garda resources aren’t there” Kenny said the core issue is capacity — with rural stations stretched and communities relying on limited patrols across wide areas. Farmers, he said, should not be forced into turning their homes and yards into high-security sites just to feel safe. “This is people’s workplaces — but it’s also their homes,” he said, adding that many victims are left with a lingering sense that their space has been violated.

Prime Time heard from farmers who said theft has become so frequent that security measures are no longer optional. Some now use drones to check land if they spot suspicious activity, while others are investing in trackers and alert systems that notify them if livestock or machinery leaves a defined area.

In Limerick, dairy farmer Jimmy O’Donnell said he has had multiple tools and machine parts stolen, as well as diesel taken from his tractor.

“It’s not fair that we feel in danger coming into our own workspace from outside individuals. We don’t know where they came from, what they’re doing,” he said.

“Our farm is our factory, but it’s also our home. We need to feel safe.”

Drones and CCTV Becoming Commonplace Mr O’Donnell said he now uses a drone to check his land when he notices suspicious activity. “It’s easier to send a drone down the fields if we see people on the land than it is to go and challenge them,” he said.

“It’s a tiny drone. It will travel a kilometre away from me and it will video what’s going on. They’ll know it’s up there. It’s a great deterrent.” Other farmers featured on the programme said intruders often enter land under the guise of hunting, before returning later to steal equipment or livestock.

Many are now investing in alarm systems, trackers and motion sensors to protect property and recover stolen items. The programme also examined the rise in livestock theft, particularly during lambing season, which runs from February to April.

Garda figures show more than 1,000 animals were stolen nationwide in 2025, with many incidents believed to go unreported. Sligo farmer Aidan Sheerin, who lost 14 sheep and lambs from a locked shed, said the experience was devastating.

“I was physically nearly sick when it happened. You’d be thinking about the newborn lamb and what might have happened to them,” he said. “The traceability with sheep is practically nil. Even with a tag, you can cut it out in seconds.” He added that animals can be retagged and sent to slaughter quickly, making recovery extremely difficult.

READ MORE: 'Unique significance of their contribution' - 100th anniversary of Leitrim's forgotten prisoners