A number of cattle have reportedly had to be put down following a road accident in Co. Laois this morning (Wednesday, October 4).

According to local publication the Leinster Express, a cattle transporter trailer crashed near the Rock National School, at the Rock, close to Mountmellick, Co. Laois. It is understood that the trailer became separated from the lorry while driving past the school.

The crash allegedly occurred shortly after 8:00am this morning, during school rush-hour traffic.

The accident resulted in up to five cattle having to be put down, while a full road closure has been enforced by Gardai to facilitate the removal of the trailer – with diversions in place.

The driver was not injured, according to the publication, and no other vehicles are believed to have been involved in the incident.

Trailer stolen with dead ewe inside in Monaghan

In other rural news, a trailer with a dead ewe inside was stolen under the cover of darkness on Sunday night (October 1) in Co. Monaghan – the latest in a series of thefts reported in recent weeks.

The farmer who owned it had been using the Hudson livestock trailer Sunday evening to collect a dead ewe from a field.

It was then parked up for the evening at around 6:00pm, just 150ft from the farmer’s parents’ home – which is located a few miles outside Ballybay. The trailer was last seen by the farmer as he left the yard shortly after 7:00pm.

The 8ftX4ft Hudson livestock trailer is a twin-axle, low-roof model – designed so it didn’t catch the wind when being drawn behind a car, according to the farmer.

The trailer’s roof could also be removed to improve its versatility, the farmer added. The farmer valued the trailer – which he bought new a number of years ago – at approximately €2,000 and said it was in “fierce good” condition. A set of LED lights had also been installed on the trailer.

However, one of the aluminium loading gates on the trailer is damaged and there are a few marks near the Hudson sign on the front right-hand-side of the trailer.

Members of An Garda Siochana have been made aware of the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballybay Garda Station on: 042-9741002.