Farmers say they have little choice but to use guns to protect themselves against criminals who are targeting their homesteads.

People who live in isolated spots are arming themselves with their legally held guns and turning their homes into fortresses in response to what they say is a growing threat of violence from burglars.

They say they are being watched from the shadows outside their homes.

Farmers have been telling reporters that while they know shooting an intruder could ruin their lives, they feel they must take action if they are to secure their properties and protect their families.

Farmers are spending big money on electric gates and reinforced steel gates, on CCTV cameras and sensor lights.

Others say they now have to ring ahead to tell their neighbours they will be visiting, instead of just dropping in, for fear of startling them.

The Irish Independent is running a series of articles on the issue this week.

Special correspondent Paul Williams told The Pat Kenny Show (being presented by Shane Coleman) about the community of Littleton in Co Tipperary:

"Every premises, farm and dwelling house within a 10-mile radius of the village had been hit, robbed at some stage in the last two to three years. In the past year they had recorded 50 incidences. They have lost faith in the gardaí, with whom they have a great relationship at a personal level... It took two, three, four hours, in some cases days for the gardaí to respond (to call-outs)."

A political problem 

Williams warns the problem could become a major political issue in the run-up to the general election.

He insists garda cutbacks of between 20 and 30% of officers are placing farmers at risk of burglary, though An Garda Síochána denies any increased risk arising from budget cuts:

Members of the gardaí have been banned from speaking to the media.

Only authorised senior officers are allowed to communicate on the issue.