Write a commentA stag that had found it's way into the city centre earlier this morning has been shot dead.
In a statement police said they tried to humanely manage the animal but it became agitated and they had to shoot it as it posed a risk to the public.
Police had issued an appeal for people to stay away from the Lyndsay Hill area following sightings of the stag before 8 this morning.
The stag had been roaming loose in the area of the city bordered by Lyndsay Hill, St Clares Avenue and St Patricks Avenue.
Police and USPCA personnel were at the scene.
Just before 10.30am a loud shot rang out followed by a couple more shortly afterwards. The Stag was shot in a garden area behind St Clares Avenue/ St Patricks Avenue
In a statement the PSNI said "Following a report of a stag running loose in the St Patrick’s Avenue area of Newry this morning specially trained firearms officers were tasked to assist.
"Several attempts were made to safely and humanely manage the animal. Regrettably officers were required to shoot the stag as it had become very agitated and posed a risk to the public. Officers had liaised with a vet and qualified deer stalkers were in attendance at the scene."
