Midlands 103 FM News – 11 March 2016

The Portlaoise based Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association says farmers are now patrolling roads at night with loaded shotguns in order to protect themselves from thefts and rural crime.

The Association is calling for an urgent review of government strategies designed to combat the issue.

They’re asking for more support for community alert schemes and the possibility of using the army to back up Garda resources, until a full complement of officers are in place to tackle criminal gangs.

ICSA Rural Development Chairman, Seamus Sherlock, says farmers are being driven to despair: