‘We are in fear of our lives’ - Offaly farmer fired shotgun to spook intruders
Edenderry farmer Seamus Farrell told Kieran Cuddihy on RTE’s Liveline programme about the terrifying ordeal
An Offaly farmer has outlined the fear being endured by his family after armed intruders were on his farm and only left after he discharged a legally held shotgun.
Speaking to Kieran Cuddihy on RTE’s Liveline programme, Edenderry man Seamus Farrell detailed the terrible ordeal they have endured.
“When I looked at my phone I could see four of them coming down my driveway, with hammers, an axe, bolt cutters… you name it.
“One of them actually stood behind my pillar and if I came out I was getting a hammer in the head,” he said.
“I got up and got dressed and went down and let a shot in the air and the four of them bolted across the yard and into the trees,” he said.
He told the RTÉ presenter that he has a gun licence for 48 years.
“They were here before. The same crowd was in here in February/March last year as well.
“They did the exact same thing before and the alarm sensors let me know where they were… I went out and also fired a shot and they bolted. But this time I went out onto the road and put down my gun like an eegit. Sure they came at me with a van, with no lights on.
When asked by Kieran if he was safe after this happening for a third time on his farm, Seamus said: “No. We are in fear for our lives. This gang is capable of anything. This fella in Edenderry contacted my son and threats came that they will be coming. ‘We are going to be in your room tonight. We are coming to get you’. The first thing I did was I thought of ringing the gardaí,” he said.
“I rang Tullamore and got a lovely guard. He said there’s a squad car going around Edenderry, I will put them onto you and get them to ring you. Five minutes later they ring me and say we are going to a dispute in a house. I said you may park outside my house, we are terrified. And they said, ‘We haven’t the resources for that. You may ring 999 if anything happens’. That turned my stomach. I had to go out and sit in the car all night,” Seamus said.