Search party still looking for dog of murdered man

THE niece of murdered Co Wicklow Michael McCoy yesterday said "I hope and pray" his killer will be brought to justice soon as the hunt for the tragic man's dog continued.

The 61-year-old, who had been labelled a "serial objector" by some in the Dublin Mountains and neighbouring Co Wicklow areas, was beaten to death as he walked his two boxer dogs Sophie and Fia.

Michael's artist niece Kirstin, who lives in the South of France, has posted a number of messages online, including a plea for information on his death.

She tweeted: "I hope and pray the perpetrator of this horrendous crime is caught ASAP. Anyone with info please contact Garda."

Kirstin, who described her uncle as a kind and gentle man, said she was in complete shock over his death.

Michael, believed to be the lone member of the Dublin Mountain Conservation Group, drove his car the short distance to the forest beside his isolated home in Ballinascorney Hill near Brittas on Thursday at 6.30am, where he went for a walk with his dogs.

Female dog Sophie was found with her owner's body at around 4am on Friday.

The family have started a national campaign to locate Fia, with a source saying they are desperate to find the pet as a "last connection to Michael".

His daughter Rachel wrote on Twitter: "Sophie...stayed with my dad until found early on Friday morning then returned home by the mountain rescue teams."

The family had initially searched frantically for Fia in a bid to help find Michael.

And a search party is still looking for the pet in the forest.

A 41-year-old man arrested by gardai on Saturday in connection with the killing has been released without charge and a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Officers had been investigating a line of enquiry that the grandfather could have been after he became involved in a land dispute.

The family have offered a reward for the return of Fia.