Since CCTV ‘we sleep a little better at night’

OLIVER Clooney has been targeted by criminals three times in recent years but now says the camera system brings him great peace of mind.

The 65-year-old farmer told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘The first time I was broken into was in 2013. My quad was stolen and other tools and machinery were taken, but I was lucky – the quad was recovered.

‘However, I was targeted again in June 2016 and the quad was stolen again. It is a highpowered farm quad worth about €9,000.

‘They also stole diesel, oil, chainsaws and other equipment which set us back over €10,000. It wasn’t uncommon in these parts.’

The townland of Dunmore is near Durrow and Abbeyleix in Laois.

Mr Clooney said that people in the area were ‘living in fear’ and afraid to leave their homes empty at night.

However, he added that since the cameras were installed, ‘we all sleep a little better at night knowing that we have something watching over us, as it would take 30 minutes for the local gardaí to reach us from Portlaoise.’