Roscommon Mart have issued an appeal for information following the theft of a lorry from a yard outside of Roscommon town.

The theft is believed to have occurred between 5:00p.m yesterday (Thursday, September 26) and 5:00a.m this morning (Friday, September 27) at Ballymurray.

Those with any information on the stolen lorry are being asked to contact Roscommon Garda Station (090 663 8300) or Roscommon Mart (090 662 6352).

Gardaí confirmed that investigations are ongoing at this time.

The mart has asked the public to “keep an eye out” for the whereabouts of the lorry.

Meanwhile, residents in Co. Roscommon and surrounding rural areas will form a “protest rally” against rural crime this weekend (Sunday, September 29).

The protest follows a spate of robberies in the county in the past six weeks, including a burglary at Elphin Livestock Mart, which was targeted by what is believed to have been a criminal gang.

It is understood that a sum of money was stolen, and damage was done to electrical infrastructure at the mart.

Gardaí are investigating the stolen property and criminal damage, but no arrests have been made at this time.

Councillors have raised the concern that the issue of continued rural crime is due to a reduction in opening hours for garda stations in the area.

Independent Councillor Anthony Waldron has organised a public ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration, which will begin at Castlerea Mart at 4:00p.m.

Protesters will march to the town square of Castlerea, with seating areas in the square for those unable to march, but want to support the cause.

Cllr. Waldron has asked people to join in order “protect” homes, farms, and businesses to “stand strong with rural Ireland”.

The councillor said that protesters will be calling for “immediate government action to combat the surge in rural burglaries”.