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Irish Post
16-06-2025
- Irish Post
Organised crime suspected in livestock thefts in Northern Ireland
RECENT figures show that over 3,000 animals were reported stolen across Northern Ireland between 2019 and 2024. There is now a prevailing theory that organised crime could be involved. The vast majority of these thefts have been of livestock, particularly sheep and cattle, often from isolated rural areas like Causeway Coast and Glens. With livestock prices continuing to rise, the incentives for criminals have grown exponentially. Supt Johnston McDowell of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), who leads on rural and wildlife crime, stated that police have been collaborating with counterparts in the Republic of Ireland to address the issue, particularly where cross-border activity is suspected. 'Some of the cases clearly involve a high level of planning and resources, which suggests a link to organised crime,' he said. This assessment is echoed by the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU). Spokesperson John McCleneghan said, 'When you see dozens of animals taken in one go, that's not opportunistic—that's crime in action.' One such case took place in January 2024, when 50 lambs were stolen in a single night from a farm near Derry. Farmer Dermot Mullan described the theft as a 'well-planned operation' that left his family devastated. 'They must have had a large trailer and known exactly what they were doing,' he said. The financial loss—estimated at nearly £10,000—was only part of the toll. 'It's affected our mental health too,' Mullan said, adding that his young sons had helped care for the lambs and felt the loss deeply. Livestock theft is still an expensive and enduring problem in Northern Ireland, even though the total cost of rural crime decreased by 9% in 2024, according to insurer NFU Mutual. The estimated cost of livestock theft in Britain and Northern Ireland last year was £3.4 million. Farmers have been advised by the PSNI to take preventative actions, such as keeping security systems up to date, locking gates and buildings at night, and making sure all animals are microchipped or tagged. A new law passed in 2024 has provided new legal tools to combat pet abduction, another type of animal theft, in the face of increased awareness of rural crime. The Pet Abduction Act 2024 establishes specific offences for the theft of dogs and cats, recognising their legal status as more than just property. The British government's Pet Theft Taskforce, which was established in response to a dramatic rise in pet thefts during the pandemic, made this law one of its main recommendations. Historically, pet theft was prosecuted under general theft laws, which failed to acknowledge the emotional harm caused to owners or the welfare of the animals. This was especially painful in cases involving working dogs such as gundogs, which can be worth thousands of pounds. 'Gundogs are not just tools; they are companions,' said a Countryside Alliance Ireland spokesperson, 'To have one stolen is not just a financial loss—it's deeply personal.' The new law allows courts to weigh emotional and psychological harm alongside monetary value, with sentencing powers of up to five years in prison and fines. While pet theft remains relatively low in Northern Ireland compared to Britain, the legislation has been welcomed as a strong deterrent. As both livestock theft and pet theft continue to challenge rural communities, better legal protections are more important than ever in tackling the shadow of organised crime in the countryside. See More: Johnston McDowell, Northern Ireland, PSNI, Pet Abduction Act, UFU
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Yahoo
Farm animal thefts linked to organised crime
More than 3,000 animals were reported as stolen in Northern Ireland between 2019 and 2024 in a pattern that is being linked to organised crime. New figures obtained by BBC News NI show that the vast majority were farm animals such as sheep and cattle. Most of the reported thefts took place in rural council areas like Mid Ulster and Causeway Coast and Glens. Police said the high value of livestock suggests that some of the cases will have a link to "organised crime and cross-border criminality". And an Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) representative said the amount of planning involved in stealing large numbers of animals suggests a link to organised crime. PSNI Rural and Wildlife Crime lead, Superintendent Johnston McDowell, said police had been working to decrease the number of animal thefts and in some cases were working alongside An Garda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland. John McCleneghan from the UFU told BBC News NI that livestock theft is something they hear about a lot. "When you look at some of the cases of dozens of cattle or sheep being taken, that takes planning, so that alone is evidence of some form of organised crime being involved. "The reality is that as the value of livestock has increased in recent years, the value to the criminal and the incentive to the criminal has also increased." He added: "That's why we would say to farmers to take all the steps they can in terms of security to try act as a deterrent, to protect their livestock, so things like tags on their animals locks on gates, regular checks and things like that, CCTV or tracking devices. "But we appreciate that all this is also an added cost and financial burden to the farmer in already tough times." In January 2024, 50 lambs were stolen near the village of Park in Londonderry in what farmer Dermot Mullan said was a "well-planned operation" that would cost him up to £7,000. "I received a call from my brother that the sheep weren't in the field, but I honestly just thought they had escaped", he said. Later that day the scale of the theft would become apparent to Dermot and his family. He said: "I was in shock, it took a while to sink in, for 50 sheep to be taken in one go without detection would take a lot of planning. "They came in the middle of the night, it was very stormy so we wouldn't have heard much, they must have rounded the sheep up and had a large trailer waiting and away they went." Dermot said the whole incident has had a huge impact on his family. "It's been tough, it's a big financial loss, but there is also an impact on your mental health, not just on me but on the whole family. "Yes you have the animals to make money, but you get attached to them, especially with the lambs, my two sons looked after them on a Saturday and things like that, so it was a real loss." Dermot said the figures on the overall number of animal thefts across Northern Ireland are "shocking". He said: "Unfortunately, I know of other farmers who have had livestock stolen, it happens lot. "But a lot of them are men who don't want to come forward and talk about it or in some cases to even report it, for a whole lot of reasons like fear and stigma, but we need to shine light on this issue, because it can have a devastating effect on people" BBC News NI previously reported that that the Mid Ulster farming community were left "traumatised" following a string of burglaries related to agricultural equipment last year. The cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland decreased last year, according to new figures from the rural insurer National Farmers Union (NFU) Mutual. It fell by 9% to an estimated £1.8m in 2024 compared to 2023, in what NFU said is a result of co-ordinated action against organised and serious crime in the countryside. But the new report suggests that livestock theft remained high across the UK at an estimated cost of £3.4m in 2024. The PSNI said there was no evidence to suggest that there had been an upsurge in animals being actively targeted. But Supt McDowell gave some advice to farmers and other animal owners. He said they should: close and lock yard gates at night to deter drive-through thieves lock outbuildings at night that hold livestock check lighting, alarms and cameras are working microchip or tag animals to help with recovery if they do get stolen In a statement the Department of Agriculture said it took the theft of farm animals "very seriously". A department spokesperson added: "Rural crime, in particular the theft of farmed animals, is a direct threat to the livelihood of our farmers and to the integrity of the traceability system which is vital in providing assurance on the safety, integrity and quality of our food." Farming community 'traumatised' after burglaries Farmer describes theft of 50 lambs as 'shocking'
BBC News
15-06-2025
- BBC News
Farm animal thefts in Northern Ireland linked to organised crime
More than 3,000 animals were reported as stolen in Northern Ireland between 2019 and 2024 in a pattern that is being linked to organised figures obtained by BBC News NI show that the vast majority were farm animals such as sheep and of the reported thefts took place in rural council areas like Mid Ulster and Causeway Coast and say the high value of livestock suggests that some of the cases will have a link to "organised crime and cross-border criminality".And an Ulster Farmers' Union representative says the amount of planning involved in stealing large numbers of animals suggests a link to organised crime. PSNI Rural and Wildlife Crime lead, Superintendent Johnston McDowell, said police had been working to decrease the number of animal thefts and in some cases were working alongside An Garda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland. 'They are more than just livestock' John McCleneghan is from the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU). He says livestock theft is something they hear about a said: "When you look at some of the cases of dozens of cattle or sheep being taken, that takes planning, so that alone is evidence of some form of organised crime being involved."The reality is that as the value of livestock has increased in recent years, the value to the criminal and the incentive to the criminal has also increased."He added: "That's why we would say to farmers to take all the steps they can in terms of security to try act as a deterrent, to protect their livestock, so things like tags on their animals locks on gates, regular checks and things like that, CCTV or tracking devices."But we appreciate that all this is also an added cost and financial burden to the farmer in already tough times." In January 2024, 50 lambs were stolen near the village of Park in Londonderry in what farmer Dermot Mullan said was a "well-planned operation" that would cost him up to £7,000."I received a call from my brother that the sheep weren't in the field, but I honestly just thought they had escaped", he that day the scale of the theft would become apparent to Dermot and his said: "I was in shock, it took a while to sink in, for 50 sheep to be taken in one go without detection would take a lot of planning."They came in the middle of the night, it was very stormy so we wouldn't have heard much, they must have rounded the sheep up and had a large trailer waiting and away they went."Dermot says the whole incident has had a huge impact on his family."It's been tough, it's a big financial loss, but there is also an impact on your mental health, not just on me but on the whole family. "Yes you have the animals to make money, but you get attached to them, especially with the lambs, my two sons looked after them on a Saturday and things like that, so it was a real loss."Dermot says the figures on the overall number of animal thefts across Northern Ireland are "shocking".He said: "Unfortunately, I know of other farmers who have had livestock stolen, it happens lot."But a lot of them are men who don't want to come forward and talk about it or in some cases to even report it, for a whole lot of reasons like fear and stigma, but we need to shine light on this issue, because it can have a devastating effect on people" BBC News NI previously reported that that the Mid Ulster farming community were left "traumatised" following a string of burglaries related to agricultural equipment last cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland decreased last year, according to new figures from the rural insurer National Farmers Union (NFU) fell by 9% to an estimated £1.8m in 2024 compared to 2023, in what NFU says is a result of co-ordinated action against organised and serious crime in the the new report says that livestock theft remained high across the UK at an estimated cost of £3.4m in 2024. Security measures The PSNI said there was no evidence to suggest that there had been an upsurge in animals being actively Supt McDowell gave some advice to farmers and other animal owners. He said they should:close and lock yard gates at night to deter drive-through thieveslock outbuildings at night that hold livestockcheck lighting, alarms and cameras are workingmicrochip or tag animals to help with recovery if they do get stolenIn a statement the Department of Agriculture said it took the theft of farm animals "very seriously".A department spokesperson added: "Rural crime, in particular the theft of farmed animals, is a direct threat to the livelihood of our farmers and to the integrity of the traceability system which is vital in providing assurance on the safety, integrity and quality of our food."
