The farmers and their neighbours mounted a new search on Saturday in the Myshall and Kildavin area on the border between counties Carlow and Wexford. "About 27 of us gathered at 10.30am," John Bayley, one of the farmers who lost sheep in the attacks, told the Irish Farmers Journal.

They first spotted a large dog in the woods similar to the one spotted worrying sheep in recent weeks. They later cornered the animal in a field and put him down. Bayley said the operation lasted around four hours.

He was neglected and hungry

"It was a very clever dog that should never have been hunted like this," Bayley said. "He was neglected and hungry."

Farmers have linked the distinctive dog to at least four attacks in which nearly 50 sheep were killed or had to be put down in the area in the past month. "Everyone slept last night," Bayley said on Sunday.

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