Sheep farmer heartbroken after ewe cries after her lambs stolen from field

Louise Walsh

A pedigree sheep farmer has been left heartbroken at hearing her distressed ewe 'cry' after her bleating lambs as they were being stolen last week

Donna Vidal is now offering a €2000 reward for information which will lead to the return of her two five-week-old Lanark type Scottish Blackface Ewe lambs which were taken from their mother at the farm outside Trim, Co Meath last Saturday.

The 27-year-old farmer says she wishes a fox had got them instead of thieves as she doesn't know if they are now suffering without food.

"I was woken up about 3am on April 23rd by the ewe roaring and I could hear lambs roaring in distress back but their cries seemed to be getting further away," she said.

"My initial thought was that it was a fox but then the lambs were about 15kg each and far too big for a fox to carry off. The dogs weren't barking either and they'd be making quite a fuss if there was a fox about.

"I went outside with my head torch on and saw a car screeching off, which I thought was unusual, but then I checked the paddock, which backs on to a main road, and the lambs were gone.

"The ewe had given birth to quadruplets, two rams and two ewes which I had been bottle-feeding. Only the ewes had been taken so I definitely don't think a fox would have a gender preference.

"It would be very easy for someone to cross the fence, take them under each arm and take off with them"

Donna, who has a flock of about 100 sheep which she exhibits at shows , says she has offered the reward to just get them back and ensure they are ok.

"I searched nearby fields, hedges, drains and anywhere they might have got stuck if they escaped but I found nothing.

"Not only am I devastated to have lost them but I worry if they are ok, getting fed properly or being cared for. At least if it was a fox, I'd know they were gone straight away.

"This was my first year to breed Lanarks and they were my pride and joy. To hear the ewe roar and cry after her babies, who were also bleating back in distress as they were stolen, was just heartbreaking.

"They are probably worth less than a grand each anyway but the reward is to get them back safely. I know for many, they are only two horned lambs but they meant so much more to me. I'm heartbroken."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Trim garda station at 046 9281540