Zoo faces trial over tapir attack on girl

Dublin Zoo is facing criminal proceedings after a two-year-old girl and her mother were attacked and injured during a supervised "close encounter" with a Brazilian tapir.

The zoo, one of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions, is accused of ignoring a health risk assessment carried out seven years before the toddler was mauled by the animal, in August 2013.

The girl, who suffered stomach and arm injuries, had to receive treatment from surgeons at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, while her mother also required medical attention.