Mountain aid call treated as hoax

Four helicopters were used during the search operation

A call for help which led to a major rescue operation being mounted in the Mourne Mountains is being treated as a deliberate hoax, police have said.

Someone claiming to be a French tourist staying at a local hotel called the establishment on Monday morning telling them he was lost.

The chairman of Down District Council, Colin McGrath, said nearly £200,000 of public money had been wasted.

"That could have provided for a youth centre for a year," he said.

"Or a small primary school for a year or a number of doctors and nurses."

Four helicopters and a spotter plane, along with dog teams and other rescue teams were sent to look for the man.

But police later called off the search saying they no longer believed the man was missing.

They said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the initial report.