One in five farmers victim of crime

Senator Robbie Gallagher says farmers need clarity over the law with regard to trespass on their property. Senator Gallagher was speaking after a survey by the CSO of farming households showed that over a fifth (21pc) said that a crime or crimes had been committed against the farm in the 12 months prior to the survey. .

In the Crime and Victimisation Survey of the farming households the crime most frequently reported was trespassing on farmland (18pc of respondents), while the next highest category of crime was the theft of farm machinery (2pc of respondents).

"One growing worry of farmers is people trespassing on land with dogs worrying livestock and causing stress, injury and fatalities amongst livestock and indeed threatening behaviour to landowners. This is something that needs to be addressed by the relevant authorities and legislation amended if necessary so that this matter can be addressed effectively," said Senator Gallagher.

“Farm organisations have called for tougher laws on serious trespass and for a national Garda policy for the approach to handling both the victims and perpetrators of trespass and illegal hunting. Farmers find that when people trespass on their land, they have no remedy in the criminal law and that when they contact An Garda Síochána, they are told that officers can only intervene if there is a threat to commit a criminal offence or if criminal damage has been done," he said.

“My colleague Deputy Jim O Callaghan SC has said that although there are trespass-related provisions on the Statute Book, they are not being used and they do not appear to be effective for farmers. Farmers want to be able to tell people trespassing on their land to leave and that there will be consequences if they do not do so. There needs to be clarity in relation to this," he said.