Family heartbroken after farm machinery destroyed in arson attack

A LOCAL farming family have been left "heartbroken" after tractors and several pieces of farm machinery were destroyed in an arson attack.

The shocking incident, which took place in the early hours of Friday morning, saw two tractors, and a number of other agricultural implements, destroyed at a farmyard on the Spring Road, Drumnakilly.

A shed, which was used to house the machinery that was worth tens-of-thousands of pounds, was also destroyed in the blaze.

There were no reports of any injuries.

Police investigating the incident are keen to speak to two men who were in the area shortly after 1.30am, and stated that one was wearing a beanie hat, and the other who had a hood up.

Clive Rutledge, who farms part-time with his brother, Aaron and father George, said they are still in "disbelief" following the incident, which saw two tractors, four balers, a mower, grass topper, hay shaker, trailer and linkbox all damaged beyond repair.

"We are heartbroken and in disbelief, and at a loss as to why someone would do this," he told the Tyrone Constitution.

"Three days before it happened, we had packed the machinery into the shed in preparation for winter, as we do every year. By chance we had done this a bit earlier than last year, but we never expected something like this to happen.

"The fire was started on Friday morning at 1.30am. We have CCTV footage of two males walking into the shed and going over to one tractor in particular.

“They opened the door and lit the cab, and within 20 minutes the whole thing was a complete furnace.

"Unfortunately, their faces were covered and as it was so dark they are hard to identify. We have very little evidence to go on."

'Ruined'

Clive explained that the ruined machinery had been meticulously acquired over many years, and had been a major source of pride for the family.

As part-time beef farmers, the tractors and implements had been used to carry out work such as baling, making hay and paddock topping.

"Over the years, my brother, father and would buy pieces of machinery here and there," Clive said. 

"We had just built it up to what we had to the point where we had all the machinery we needed. We knew every piece of equipment well.

"It's the kind of collection that cannot be replaced all at once, if at all, especially as we are 90 per cent a hobby farm, ten per cent working farm.

"I have two young sons and they are absolutely devastated with what has happened.”

"They had gotten to the age where they were starting to drive tractors and gain an understanding of the machines. They had an interest, so this is very sore on them.

"Everything in the shed was burnt, including a Case CS94, Lamborghini tractor, a mower, round baler, three old time balers, a hay shaker, a grass topper, a trailer and a link box. We are starting over from scratch."

In the wake of the shocking incident, local people have rallied around the Rutledge family in support, and have even offered them the lend of machinery if needed.

Clive added: "I would like to extend thanks to the local community, who have rallied around us following the incident.

“So many have rallied around us, and offered to lend us their machinery until we get things replaced. We have been humbled by this."

Mid-Tyrone DUP councillor, Shirley Hawkes condemned the incident as "wanton" and "malicious”.

She urged anyone with information to contact the PSNI at the earliest opportunity.

“This is another outrageous attack in a rural area which has resulted in the destruction of farm machinery at a substantial cost to the family," councillor Hawkes said.

"To deliberately set fire to a shed with machinery in it, knowing the devastation and destruction it will cause stretches beyond human comprehension and raises questions as to what the logic is behind it all.

"I outrightly condemn this act of wanton vandalism and call on members of the community to stand together in their condemnation of this malicious act and provide whatever information they may have to the PSNI, to help bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Speaking on the incident, Sergeant Sproule of the PSNI said: "At this time, we believe that a tractor in the shed was set on fire and we are keen to speak to two men who were in the area shortly after 1.30am. One was wearing a beanie hat, while the other had a hood up.

“The shed, along with two tractors were destroyed as a result of the fire.

"At this time, we are treating this as arson and we would appeal to anyone with any information to contact us on 101, quoting reference 117 11/8/23."