Second arrest in local livestock investigation

A second man has been arrested as part of the Garda investigation into one of the biggest livestock thefts in the history of the State.

At lunchtime today, a 34-year-old man from the Co Donegal area was arrested in relation to the theft of livestock worth over €100,000 from a farm in Kilbeggan back in June. He is currently being detained at Athlone Garda Station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, where he can be held for 24 hours.

He is second person to be arrested by Athlone Gardai as part of the investigation following the detention of another man in Donegal earlier this month. In that case, the man was later released without charge.

The theft occurred between 9pm on June 24 last and 1.15 pm the following day at the farm of Niall Dillon and his wife Christa in Cornaher, Kilbeggan.

Some 75 cattle and 25 sheep were taken during the overnight cattle raid. The farm is situated close to the N6, Old Dublin Road between Kilbeggan and Tyrrellspass.

When news of the livestock theft broke, the family were inundated with messages of goodwill and offers of help from the farming community.

The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) put up a €10,000 reward, while a number of farmers offered cattle to help them rebuild their stock.