A horse's skull found in western Ireland is not that of Shergar, reportedly kidnapped by the IRA in 1983, an Irish veterinary expert said yesterday.
Des Leadon, head of clinical pathology at the Irish Equine Centre, said tests proved beyond doubt the skull - found in a sack under a rock in County Kerry this week - was not Shergar's.
'There are a number of negatives but the clinching factor is this skull came from a horse less than 2.5 years old - Shergar was at least five at the time of his abduction,' Leadon said.
'It's definitely not Shergar,' he added.
The skull was found by Tom Foley, a councillor in the town of Tralee, while clearing litter at a beauty spot. 'I'm very disappointed. I was convinced this all gelled and that it could be Shergar,' he said.
Foley said his suspicions were initially aroused by the injuries to the skull, which appeared to have been caused by two pistol shots.