The search for a puma-type cat in countryside around Monaghan town was extended north to Rossmore forest park yesterday. Conor Lally reports.
A Garda aircraft which had been assisting the search returned to base at Baldonnel Airport yesterday afternoon.
The aircraft and the Garda helicopter will not be requested to rejoin the search until new sightings of the animal are reported.
Special equipment was used on the aircraft in the hope of spotting the animal at locations obscured from the air.
Gardaí last night said they would continue to search the area north of Monaghan town on foot, with the backing of the soldiers from Monaghan barracks. An Army marksman was still on call in case the animal is sighted again.
Insp Pat McMorrow of Monaghan Garda Station said the reported sightings of a puma-type animal in the area were still being taken seriously.
Although white markings on an animal, captured on video footage on Monday, suggested it could be a large domestic cat, not a puma, Insp McMorrow said gardaí were keeping an open mind.
"We'll continue to search for it. The search has not been called off. We examined the video footage . . . but the animal was so far away that when we zoomed in, the picture was not clear."