Nessie hunter sets sights on Selma

A Loch Ness-style monster search is being lined up for the Irish Republic later this month.

The search will be concentrated on Lough Ree, one of Ireland’s largest and most popular fishing lakes, which is said to be the home of a giant, eel-like creature.

It is being led by Swedish monster-hunter Jan Sundberg, who mounted an unsuccessful hunt for Nessie in Scotland earlier this year.

He has been attracted to Ireland by indications that the Lough Ree monster - dubbed Selma - could be related to a 9ft long eel-like creature hooked - but then lost - by a fishermen in Co Cork.

But experts said tonight Selma could prove to be as elusive as its Celtic cousin.

At Dublin’s University College, a spokesman said: ‘‘Research tells us that this is a culturally-based phenomenon rather than one based on scientific evidence.’’