Zookeeper arranged visit for family mauled by tapir

The family at the centre of the tapir attack which left a two-year-old girl with severe injuries was allowed into the animal’s enclosure because they were personal friends of the zookeeper.

Sources confirmed the connection as an internal inquiry at Dublin Zoo into what caused the shocking scenes continues to examine the scandal.

It is understood the family, who are originally from Limerick but are living in Dublin, were regular visitors to the zoo and organised the visit through a friend of a friend of the zookeeper.