A 19-month-old child was attacked by a golden retriever while walking with her mother near their home in Co. Galway. The dog clamped its jaws onto the child’s head, knocking her over and shaking her. During the High Court hearing, it was claimed that the dog held the child down while the mother struggled to free her.
The child, through her mother, was taken to Portiuncula Hospital and then transferred to a Dublin hospital, where she underwent surgery for multiple scalp lacerations. She was hospitalized for five days and was left with scars on her scalp and neck. However, a plastic surgeon confirmed that the scars had matured, and no further surgery was needed.
The dog was owned by Declan and Ann O’Grady, who lived near the plaintiff. It was argued that the dog was not properly controlled or restrained, and that the owners should have been aware of its tendency to attack or bite people. The plaintiff also claimed that there was no proper warning for walkers near the O’Grady property, and that the dog should have been muzzled.
The plaintiff settled the case for €115,000, which was approved by the High Court.
Kate Nolan (Suing through her Mother) v Declan and Ann O’Grady High Court (Justice Nuala Jackson), 24 June 2024 (Irish Times, 25 June 2024)