Local farmer recounts 'terrifying' experience

An Edenderry farmer has spoken of a 'terrifying' recent ordeal for his family after he used a legally-held shotgun to scare intruders away from his Offaly home.

Seamus Farrell was speaking to RTE Liveline's Kieran Cuddihy when he said that he shot his gun up in the air to frighten the would-be thieves away from his premises.

He said that while he and his wife were sleeping, his home security sensors alerted him to the presence of people on his property. He said that when he checked the security app on his phone, he saw four people – armed with hatchets, a hammer and bolt cutters – on his property. The incident, he said, occured on Saturday, July 11, at approximately 2.30am.

“It was very scary. After looking at the app, I got my clothes on and went downstairs. I told my wife to phone 999 but she was shaken and could barely hold the phone. I could see a fella' standing behind the front door and if I hadn't seen that on the app and went straight out, I would've got a hammer in the head,” he said.

Seamus said that when the doorway was clear, he opened the door and shot his gun into the air. The would-be intruders, he said, scarpered across his work-yard and into a nearby field. Seamus then shot the wheels on the intruders vehicle, which they had parked outside the front gate.

Seamus said his wife and children are left terrified from the experience, and that his wife is 'still not the better of it'.

“I can't explain what it's like to have this happen. Until it happens to you, you've no idea how scary it is. This area, which is two miles outside Edenderry, has always been a lovely quiet area. But now we are in fear for our lives.” he said.

The main reason for this, he said, is that he suspects the same intruders have been on his premises on a couple of other occasions in the past few months.

On one such occasion, he said, a motorcycle was stolen from his yard. He suspects that the premises is being targeted by a gang from the Dublin area, who he claims are stealing motorcycles around the Leinster area 'on a daily basis'.

He also warned fellow motorcycle enthusiasts in the midlands to be wary in light of these incidents.

“I've had licensed guns for 48 years and never had to use them until now,” said Seamus.

CCTV of the incident was captured by Seamus and handed over to local Gardaí, who told RTE Liveline that it attended at the scene on the night in question, and is currently investigating all aspects of the incident.