'Suspicious yellow man' wearing wig and mask spotted walking along rural Irish road in dead of night

Police are conducting "proactive patrols" in the Kilrea area of Co Derry following the emergence of a video showing a suspicious individual dressed in all yellow. Gerard McFerran, who captured the footage, reported encountering the man on Vow Road at approximately 12:30am on December 27.

The man, wearing a long yellow coat, yellow trousers, and boots, as well as a white mask and black wig, raised suspicions. However, despite social media claims suggesting the "yellow man" was armed, Gerard disputed this, stating it was merely online speculation.

In an interview with Belfast Live, Gerard recounted: "I was driving down the Vow Road when I saw the man wearing in all yellow walking down the road and it seemed very strange.

READ MORE - Top priority warning issued after woman suffers horrific injuries after swim

READ MORE - Ireland cold weather end date confirmed as Met Eireann forecast major 18C temperature swing

"I was asking him why he was dressed like that and he mostly ignored me and just kept walking. All he said was that 'it wasn't him' and that he couldn't get the mask off and that he had been staying with a friend after getting a train up here.

"It was all very strange and made no sense at all, but I have seen people on social media saying that the man was armed which is not something I ever said. I think because he was fidgeting in his pocket people thought this, but it wasn't the case," reports Belfast Live.

Police have announced that officers will be conducting proactive foot patrols in several locations today including Kilrea, Rasharkin and Dunloy, following reports of the suspicious man spotted in these areas.

Inspector Burns stated: "As a service, we take all reports very seriously and I hope that the visibility of our officers today, alongside our commitment to continue to patrol shared public spaces, provides reassurance and boosts confidence that we are committed to doing everything we can to make areas safe.

"If you are out and about and notice anything suspicious or perhaps you are concerned about the welfare of an individual, please report your concerns to our officers on the ground, or by calling 999 in an emergency, or 101 if it's a non-emergency."

Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.