Second man arrested in connection with €100,000 livestock theft

Gardaí have arrested a second man in connection with the theft of livestock worth €100,000 in Co Westmeath.

A total of 75 cattle and 25 sheep were taken from a farm at Cornaher in Kilbeggan last June.

Earlier this month a man in his 30s was arrested but was later released without charge. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in his case.

Lock cut

On Thursday, a 34-year-old man was arrested and is being held at Athlone Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The owner of the farm, Niall Dillon, previously described how he found the lock on the gate to his property had been cut when he got to it on June 25th.

He said CCTV footage showed a truck with a single trailer coming into the village and leaving about two hours later with the livestock believed to be on board.

All of the animals were tagged and are traceable.