Michael Corbett

Yes, I suppose, look, rural communities, you know, drug intimidation is a very significant issue for rural communities.

And I suppose the message that I want to get out this morning, David, to your listeners is that if you are a victim of drug intimidation, be it a father, a mother,

an uncle, an aunt, a sister, a brother, and somebody is coming knocking on your door and they're saying that a relation of yours or a loved one has ran up a substantial drug debt, then my advice is to contact Angarda Siocana.

We have dedicated inspectors who are trained in every division across the country and we are able to offer you assistance and advice in relation to how we deal with this.

And, you know, some people, I suppose, it's out of fear and intimidation and threats that they don't want to come forward to and get a chicana.

But even if you don't want to make an official statement, a complaint, still come and talk to us in confidence and we can still help you as a victim of drug intimidation.

Absolutely, David.

And there's a lot of fear, there's threats and all of that.

And of course, we understand why people are afraid to come forward.

No, David, and it certainly doesn't.

And I suppose, you know, what I would always be advocating to farmers in particular, because they have valuable machinery on their farms, is that, you know, it's just about taking basic steps about, you know, having a look around your yard.

Have you gates?

Have you locks and gates?

Have you a bit of sensor lighting?

You know, CCTV has come down an awful lot in price in recent times.

You can now buy a CCTV camera for 50 euros today.

that will connect to your Wi-Fi and will connect to your phone, will send you an alert if somebody comes into the yard, you know, and it's about just doing the basic things right, you know, in the evening time, like farmers at the moment are very busy with hay and silage and they're moving between different vehicles and, you know, they're rushing against the weather.

And it's very easy to jump out of a vehicle, leave the keys in it.

So like what I'm saying to people is just, you know, for a few minutes before you finish up for the evening, whether it's at six o'clock in the evening or 11 or 12 o'clock at night, just take a couple of minutes to say, have I the yard secure?

Have I closed the gate?