Malicious Swinford farm fire kills lifestock

Malicious Swinford farm fire kills livestock


TWO neighboring farms in the Swinford area were the targets of an arson attack last week that left one farmer with dead livestock and machinery destroyed.
At least four animals were killed and farm machinery destroyed in what Gardai believe to be a malicious fire started on a Swinford man’s farm.
Two farms in the Swinford area were set ablaze in the early hours of Tuesday morning January 18, in what Gardai described as a connected incident that they are investigating.
Gardaí in Swinford confirmed to The Mayo News that at least four animals died on the farm of and that there was a possibility that a number of additional animals may have to be put down as a result of the fire.
“We are treating the incident as malicious. There were at least four animals killed and I’m not sure how many he will have to put down as a result of it now either. The fire started at some bales of hay in the area and some machinery was also destroyed at the farm.
“There was also a separate incident near by where bales of hay were also set on fire and that man lost a tractor. The incidents happened on the same night and are being treated as connected,” the Garda spokesperson told The Mayo News.
The second fire allegedly happened around the same time at the property of another farmer in Cloongullaun, Callow. In similar circumstances the fire was reported to have started maliciously with bales being set alight and machinery being damaged.
The second fire in Callow was not reported until a number of days after it allegedly occurred and the farm was not occupied at the time.
Gardai were unable to speculate on the motive for the attack. Gardai are asking anyone with information regarding the incidents to contact Gardai in Swinford on 094-9251115