Vigilance urged over diesel thefts

FARMERS were urged yesterday to be vigilant following reports in Britain of a dramatic rise in the theft from farms of low-tax red diesel used for tractors and other agricultural machinery.

Labour Party agriculture spokesperson, Sean Sherlock, TD, said leading insurers of farmers and rural enterprises in Britain have reported that claims for stolen red diesel are up 30% in the first five months of the year.

“While there are no reports of similar thefts here, newspaper and media reports of British incidences may spark copy-cat thefts here in Ireland.