Family devastated over stolen donkeys

Nellie (pictured) is said to be inseparable from her friend Blaney

A County Armagh family has said it is devastated after its four pet donkeys were stolen at the weekend.

The Clint family from Tandragee has appealed for their safe return.

It is thought the animals, who are all in foal, were driven away from premises at Laurel Vale Road in a silver and blue trailer.

The theft of Maggie, Nellie, Blaney and Tessa was reported to police on Sunday.

Jennifer Clint said the family was putting out an appeal "in the hope that someone's heart strings will be pulled and we will get our donkeys back".

She said the animals were family pets.

The little grey one - little Nellie - has a lung infection and she needs medical attention Jennifer Clint

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Monday, Mrs Clint said: "The first donkey was rescued and the second one was bought for company. The third one was bought because I love donkeys, and when we went to buy her, she was so attached to the wee grey one that we bought the two.

"Since then, they have been inseparable - if one took a step, the other took a step.

"The little grey one - little Nellie - is ill. She has a lung infection - even though she is foal - and she needs medical attention."

The donkeys were kept in a shed at the back of the house and the gates locked.

'Nursed back to health'

Jennifer said she understood many donkeys were stolen and then sold on.

"There is money in donkeys now, whereas a few years ago they were giving donkeys away," she said.

"Obviously, if they are in foal then they make more money."

Two of the animals are dark brown, one is grey and brown, the other is grey.

Maggie is a long haired donkey

Maggie is described as a dark brown, long-haired donkey.

Nellie is also long haired, grey and brown in colour and is said to be inseparable from her friend Blaney.

Blaney is short haired with dark brown hair which is nearly black in colour.

The fourth animal, Tessa, is a rescued donkey, who had been nursed back to health by her owners.

She is grey, short haired and has a distinctive cross on her back.

The animals were driven off in a trailer used by their owners for transporting them.

The police have urged anyone who is offered a donkey for sale that matches any of these descriptions to contact detectives at Tandragee.