The Beautiful Irish Countryside - Safe as Houses!!

Alice Doyle, Deputy President of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), has issued a call to action for farmers, contractors, and machinery owners to secure their equipment, especially GPS systems, in response to recent thefts.

A criminal gang appears to be actively targeting farms in Dublin and Wexford. In just three days, six GPS units were stolen in Wexford and one in North Dublin, with the total value estimated at €100,000. One individual was apprehended in North Dublin, pled guilty to attempted theft, and is awaiting sentencing.

“This is a positive outcome for An Garda Síochána,” Doyle said, urging further collaboration with other agencies to prevent stolen equipment from being taken out of the country and to facilitate its recovery for owners.

Doyle emphasized the need to break the cycle of theft of specialised agricultural equipment and suggested establishing a dedicated Garda Rural Safety Unit to combat what has become a coordinated, international issue. Due to recent geopolitical factors, including the situation in Ukraine, a market for agricultural equipment has emerged in regions like Eastern Europe. Similar issues have also been seen across the UK, where rural areas in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have experienced similar organised criminal activity.

Doyle pointed out that rural crime units in the UK already work alongside other agencies and police forces to coordinate responses, share intelligence, and apply best practices. “Ireland would greatly benefit from a similar dedicated unit, and we urge Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to consider setting one up,” she concluded.