Members of burglar gang tackled by hero Kilkenny farmers appear in court

Three Kilkenny are men due in court this afternoon after being charged in relation to a farm burglar earlier this week which led to a dramatic manhunt involving the Garda helicopter.

The three men charged are all in their 20s and have addresses in Kilkenny. They are to appear before a sitting of Carlow District Court this afternoon.

Two of the men are charged with burglary. The third suspect is charged with burglary and assault.

A fourth man has been released and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The charges relate to an incident on Monday night when a Kilkenny farmer and his son bravely tackled burglars when they discovered them on their farmyard in Ossory Hill, Johnswell.

One man was arrested at the farm after being restrained by the farmer and his son. Two more were arrested just hours after the burglary occurred thanks to the assistance of the Garda helicopter, which was working in tandem with local gardai on the ground.

The fourth man was arrested in Thomastown early yesterday morning.

Gardai are still hunting a fifth man who was seen fleeing across the fields of the farm.