Man arrested after gardaí recover cattle stolen from West Cork farm

Gardaí recovered all 18 stolen cattle after searches in the Ballydehob area and have now arrested a man in his 30s

Rustlers stole six Friesian bulls and 12 Friesian heifers, worth about €30,000, from a farm in the Lakelands area of Skibbereen. Picture: David Cheskin/PA Wire

A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with the theft of 18 cattle from a farm in West Cork last November.

On the night of Monday, November 24, rustlers stole six Friesian bulls and 12 Friesian heifers, worth about €30,000, from a farm in the Lakelands area of Skibbereen.

Gardaí from the Serious Crime Units in Clonakilty, Bandon and Bantry, along with the Divisional Search Team and the department of agriculture, carried out searches for the missing cattle in the Ballydehob area. 

Following these searches, the 18 stolen cattle were positively identified and returned to their owner.

On Tuesday morning, gardaí confirmed that a man in his 30s had been arrested in connection with the theft. 

He is currently detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

"Enquiries are ongoing at this time with the assistance of the department of agriculture," a garda spokesperson said.