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19th March 2024
11:42am GMT
BY Simon Kelly
A child has been rushed to hospital after a savage dog attack in Dingle, Co. Kerry.
Gardaí and emergency services rushed to the scene of the incident which occurred on Friday, March 15, after hearing reports of the attack.
The child was sent to University Hospital Kerry and treated for what is believed to be serious but not life-threatening injuries.
Gardaí have confirmed that the dog has since been destroyed.
In a statement to JOE.ie, a Garda spokesperson said:
“Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of an incident in which a child received injuries from a dog, which occurred in Dingle, Co Killarney at approximately 7:30pm on Friday, 15th of March 2024.
“The child, a male juvenile, was conveyed to University Hospital Kerry for treatment of serious, but non-life threatening injuries sustained as a result of this incident.
“The dog has since been destroyed. Investigations are ongoing.”
The incident comes just weeks after Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphries told the cabinet that a new stakeholder group on Dog Control will be tasked with bringing recommendations to her around strengthening dog control legislation.
The Group will be headed up by former Garda Assistant Commissioner John Twomey and made up of representatives from the likes of the Irish Farmers Association, Dogs Trust, Comhairle na Tuaithe and the ISPCA.
Minister Humphreys also announced a series of measures in response to high-profile dog attacks in Ireland, which included trebling on-the-spot fines for the most serious offences from €100 to €300.
Last September, a man sustained “serious facial injuries” in a dog attack in Dublin, while a woman received injuries to her arm.
Both were transported to hospital for treatment and the dog involved in the incident was destroyed.
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