Pizza delivery man awarded €7k over dog bite

A pizza delivery man has been awarded €7,000 after a dog bit his finger when he was pushing a promotional leaflet through a letterbox.

The man aged 23, sued Vincent and Bernie Fitzgerald over the incident at their then home in Windsor Terrace, Portobello, Dublin, on Oct 19, 2009.

He had been putting a leaflet for Apache Pizza through the Fitzgeralds’ letterbox when their dog bit his finger causing it to bleed. He later required hospital treatment, including a tetanus shot.

He brought his case in the circuit court, which in Feb 2012 dismissed his claim. Judge Matthew Deery said he had no legal permission to put his hand through the letterbox.

He brought an appeal in the High Court. There, Ms Justice Isuelt O’Malley yesterday allowed his appeal and awarded him €7,000 plus costs.

The judge noted it was not necessary to prove negligence on the part of the Fitzgeralds and she had no reason to disbelieve his evidence.

She also said the medical evidence was compelling and he was left with a permanent scar.

Mr Fitzgerald told the court there was no way the incident could have happened because a box behind the letter box was always closed, which meant it would not have been possible for the dog to have bitten him.