Fresh sightings of 'big cat' in Tipperary

Fears that a wild "big cat" is on the loose in Tipperary have resurfaced following new reports from the north of the county during the past week.

Following earlier sightings of a "panther-like animal", which gardaí have confirmed are "genuine", near Kilsheelan, south Co Tipperary last month and at Mellaray, Co Waterford in December, a creature has now been spotted in countryside close to Nenagh. A number of sightings occurred last week around the village of Cloughjordan.

John George, a poultry breeder who lives in the townland of Middle Walk, said he saw last week "a big black animal", which was "larger than a German Shepherd" but "didn't have the snout of a dog".

The animal disturbed his goose pen where "the geese were going mad" and frightened his goat and dog - both of which were "scared stiff". Mr George said he had "started shouting" and the creature "went off over the railway line".

Paul Turner, speaking from his home at Kyle, between Cloughjordan and Nenagh, said he had "found a footprint" of a "very large creature with big claws". The paw mark, "about 2.5 to three inches in diameter", was discovered on disturbed soil near a chicken run in his garden last week.

Local radio station Tipp FM contacted Co Kerry-based wildlife expert James Pembroke who visited the farm five miles south of Nenagh at the weekend. Mr Pembroke carried out a survey of the cattle farm and while he found tracks indicating the presence of various wild animals including "otters, foxes and badgers", he could find no evidence of a "big cat".