Latest: Gardaí ask Offaly landowners to check fields and hedges for clothing after burglary

It is understood this is the second time the farmhouse was targeted by thieves in the past six weeks

Latest: Gardaí are appealing to farmers and landowners in Offaly to check their fields or hedges for clothing that may have been discarded after an aggravated burglary early this morning.

The incident happened at around 2am when a gang forced their way into a farmhouse at Brosna near Bir, and assaulted and locked the owner in a shed, before leaving with a small sum of money.