Three men plead guilty to €28k fertiliser theft

Three men have pleaded guilty to a theft of 30 tonnes of fertiliser worth €28,860 in County Limerick. The incident took place on March 22, 2022. The men include a former minor hurler, Noel Greaney, aged 40, and a farmer, Joe Power, aged 28. The theft happened after the price of fertiliser surged due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Greaney claimed he was hijacked while driving the lorry, saying a man threatened him with a fake gun. However, police found evidence contradicting his story, including GPS data that tracked the stolen fertiliser to Power's property. Detective Sergeant Michael Reidy presented evidence in court, revealing that Greaney and another defendant, Chris O'Riordan, were in communication close to the time of the theft. Greaney also reported being left in a field for an hour and a half, but police found no signs of disturbance in the grass. The police recovered the fertiliser and trailer but have not located the lorry cab, which was worth €45,000. The haulier involved, Diarmuid Brosnan, mentioned the incident damaged his family's business and reputation. Each defendant has previous convictions. Greaney's lawyer cited his struggles with addiction and asked for leniency. O'Riordan's attorney noted a past sports injury that led him to substance use. Power's lawyer described him as easily influenced and working to improve his life. The judge delayed sentencing until Friday to consider their cases.