Man gored by elephant ‘trespassed’ in enclosure

A KERRYMAN badly injured when he was gored by an African elephant was unauthorised to enter the animal’s enclosure, his employers claimed last night.

The injured man, who is not the elephant’s trainer, is said to be critical but stable in hospital.

Circus New York publicity manager Martin Middleton said the man is a circus employee but he should not have been in the enclosure on Sunday afternoon when the accident happened at Tramore, Co Waterford.

In a statement last night, Mr Middleton said: “It is alleged that the man was drunk and trying to get the elephants to ‘perform’ by provoking them when the incident happened ... The man should not have been in their enclosure and they defended it the same way a dog defends its territory.”

Paul Dineen, aged 35, from Ballyheigue is a rigger involved in putting up the big top. He was attacked and struck in the side and back by the tusks of 26-year-old African elephant, Mousse.

The incident occurred as the Circus New York staff prepared for their second last day at the seaside town of Tramore.

Mousse was one of three elephants in the enclosure. She became agitated by the intrusion and charged at him, knocking him to the ground. While on the ground, she gored and trampled him.

Yesterday, Mr Dineen was recovering from surgery in the intensive care unit at Waterford Regional Hospital. The tent rigger, who has worked with various circuses around Ireland over the years, received wounds to his side and back when pierced by the elephant’s tusks.

Gardaí investigating the incident say the Health and Safety Authority are also involved.