Intimidation of Lower Ormond farmers highlighted in Dáil

Local Garda response times were highlighted as an urgent issue for rural communities by a local TD in the Dáil, following a meeting by local farmers concerned over a surge in crime in the Lower Ormond area.

Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary and North-West Kilkenny, Deputy Ryan O'Meara, has called for a full review of trespassing laws, stronger penalties and improved Garda response times to protect farmers and rural communities from repeated incidents of trespassing, intimidation and threats of violence.

Deputy O'Meara raised concerns about Garda response times in rural areas, particularly where communities are located significant distances from their main Garda station.

He has called for engagement with the Garda Commissioner on rural policing resources and to review the decision to amalgamate the Tipperary and Clare Garda divisions.

“I want to be clear that this is not a criticism of local gardaí. I recognise the challenges with response times, particularly in rural Ireland.

"However, farmers have raised concerns about the availability of nearby stations, response times to this rural area, difficulties contacting the local Garda stations and the arrangements of crossing district boundaries to respond to calls.”

Deputy O'Meara said the issue was causing genuine fear and anxiety among farmers and families, particularly in Ballingarry, Carrig, Riverstown, Aglish and the wider Lower Ormond area.

“This area is just one example of many, across rural Ireland that are experiencing these trespass issues and the intimidation that comes with them.

“One farmer told me that the same individuals had returned to his land every week for five consecutive weeks. Another described a group whose lurcher caught a hare. The individual killed the hare in front of the farmer, then threatened the farmer and damaged fencing on his land.

“A couple of weeks ago, another farmer was threatened with a metal bar by an individual trespassing on his land.”

Deputy O'Meara also highlighted incidents of electric fencing being cut, livestock escaping onto roads and an animal being struck by a car as a result.

He stressed that the issue extended beyond trespassing and property damage, with farmers increasingly concerned about their personal safety and the potential consequences of confronting trespassers.

“These are not simply disputes about access to land. They are matters of community safety, personal security and animal welfare. People in rural Ireland deserve to feel safe in their own homes and on their own land.”

He concluded by calling for a targeted Garda response and a full review of existing trespassing legislation.

“I do not accept the trespass laws are adequate in this country. If they were and if we had the Garda response times, the farmers in my constituency and rural people in general would feel safe. They would feel protected. We need a full review of the trespass laws. We need greater protections for our farmers.”