€10,000 reward offered for information on livestock raid

A reward of €10,000 is being offered for information about one of the largest ever thefts of livestock in the State.

75 cattle and 25 sheep were taken from Niall Dillon's farm between Kilbeggan and Tyrelllspass in Co Westmeath last Thursday.

Only four animals were left behind.

Gardaí are investigating, and it is believed two trucks may have been involved.

The Westmeath branch of the Irish Farmers Association has offered an award of €10,000 for any information.

"When I got to the gate, I saw the lock was cut … there were four cattle left on the farm, out of 79," said Niall Dillon.

"Financially, it's worth a lot, but not only that - we had a plan for the cattle. A lot of them were female, and were going to be replacements bred into the herd - they were all our own breeding stock."

He said the financial cost was in the region of €100,000.