Irishman has a hissy fit at finding snake in wardrobe

Mystery surrounds the origins of a two-foot Mexican black snake that surprised a man when he opened a wardrobe in a house in Whitehead.

The man, who has not been named, is reported to have ran out of the house after the hissing snake gave him "the shock of his life".

The snake was then beaten with a stick and the man rang the police in Carrickfergus for help.



The remains of the mysterious snake were kept in a freezer in the environmental health department of Carrickfergus Borough Council as scientists attempted to identify the species. It has now been identified as a young Mexican black king snake, considered harmless to humans.

John Kiley, press officer at Carrickfergus Police Station, said the snake had now been taken to City Reptiles, where it was identified as a young Mexican black king snake. "It's harmless to humans and eats bugs and things," he said.

David Wilson, from the USPCA, said finding a snake in your home would be a frightening experience. However, he added there are ways of dealing with the situation without killing the reptile.