Debt collectors ‘harassing’ farmers

Cash-strapped farmers and contractors unable to meet repayments on loans are at the mercy of opportunist debt collectors who force their way onto private property to reclaim machinery.

The situation has been highlighted by Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae who said “certain individuals” are entering yards in the middle of the night and breaking locks to remove machinery.

“They are behaving like thieves,” he said. “This issue has to be highlighted. Just because an individual owes an institution money, it does not mean that institution has the right to treat him or her like a criminal.