Fishermen spotteda whale in lough

Three Carrick fishermen, William Clossan, Jim Kilpatrick and Jim Hawkins notified the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of their discovery.

However, they were informed that their sighting was probably a toothless basking shark.

Carrick harbour master Captain Jim Spence said that this had happened previously.

A spokeman for the Department said: “It would only be of interest to us if it was a danger to kids or a danger to ships.

“If it was, a whale gun would be used. That would be a fairly unusual event.”