The saga of the llamas and goats who escaped from a circus took a twist today when they disappeared from the animal pound in Co Meath where they had been taken by the authorities.
Five llamas and three goats were stolen in the dead of night from the pound in Summerhill, Co Meath where they were taken after running wild on the M50 yesterday.
The thieves broke through eight fields, opened up ditches and walked two kilometres over land on foot to the shed where the animals were being kept.
The animals were impounded yesterday by South Dublin County Council. They were transferred them to a pound owned by Local Authority Services Ltd which is sub-contracted by the council to look after stray animals.
The animals belong to Australian Circus Sydney who have been based at Tallaght for the last week. They escaped when their gate was left open on Thursday afternoon after a diesel truck went in to fill up the circus's generator.
They were eventually herded up on the M50 near the Red Cow roundabout.
The council had demanded €5,500 for their return.
Circus owner Alexander Scholl said yesterday he did not have the money and claimed the charge was exorbitant.
He denied today that he had recaptured the animals himself and said he suspected animal rights activists.
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