Warning message sent out as fear stalks rural areas of Limerick as crime surges

RURAL communities across County Limerick are “living in fear” as the clocks go back, amid a surge in crime which one farming leader says is unlike anything he has witnessed in his lifetime.

Limerick ICMSA chairman Jimmy O’Donnell said for the last three weeks he has been getting one or two calls a day about crimes in the Kilmallock, Bruree, Effin, and Granagh areas.

“It is affecting rural communities - it is not just farmers. There are a few times over the years there have been surges but not this consistent - it is every day,” said Mr O’Donnell, a dairy farmer in Kilmallock.

He said it began at the beginning of October when two males kicked a door in to gain entry to a bachelor’s house in the dead of night before ransacking it and stealing a large sum of cash.

Mr O’Donnell lists off a number of crimes in south Limerick - a house ransacked while a man went to a relative’s house for his dinner, a home broken into while the owners were on holidays, a farmer meeting three aggressive men with dogs looking in sheds, two cars stolen from outside a property, attempted break-ins, and multiple incidents of diesel stolen from jeeps and tractors.

“We’re appealing to people to look out for each other and report crimes to the gardai. If they don’t know about it, they can’t do anything.

“Some are afraid to ring the gardai because they are afraid the criminals will come back. An awful lot of our members are middle aged and there are a lot of old men and women living on their own in rural areas - they are living in fear,” said Mr O’Donnell, who has purchased new padlocks with codes for his gates.

Limerick ICMSA has even taken the unusual step of sending a message out to all its members: “Report of increased thefts from farms in Limerick. Make every effort to secure your property. Report unusual activity and thefts to guards immediately.”

Mr O’Donnell said some people are not bothering to report crimes and he is “pleading” with them to do so. Gardai also urge victims to make official complaints as it helps their case to get extra resources when there are reported rises in crime in certain areas.

Minister of State Niall Collins said he too has received a number of calls and texts about this upsurge in crime.

“I have been in contact with senior gardai and I know they are working around the clock to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Mr Collins.