Owner fined after dog bit girl, 14

The owner of a Staffordshire bull terrier that bit a 14-year-old girl has been fined €200 at Tallaght Court and must pay €1,100 costs.

Judge Michael Coghlan also made a destruction order for the dog, but put a stay of 15 days on it.

Anthony Murray of Tree Park Drive, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, was accused of failing to keep his dog under effectual control at Castle-tymon Rd in Tallaght on November 13, 2014.

There was no appearance from Murray in court.

Dog Warden with South Dublin County Council, Philip Behan, said Murray was aware of the court date.

Mr Behan told the court that on November 13 last, he took a report that a bull terrier had attacked a girl. He said the dog was later sent to the pound.

He said Murray later contacted the pound to say that he was the owner of the dog.

Mr Behan said he later contacted the father of the girl and he then spoke to the girl about the incident.

He said that on November 18, he called to Murray’s house and told him that he was seizing the dog until the end of the court case.

He said Murray had not applied to get the dog back and told him that the dog had “just got out”.

The girl told the court that she was out walking her dog when she saw the bull terrier.

She said that she kept on walking and then she looked down and the bull terrier was on her dog’s neck.

She said: “There was blood everywhere. I tried to get him off my dog. Then he bit me on the hand.”

She began to weep in the witness box and was led away by a representative from Tallaght Victim Support.

Judge Coghlan fined Murray €200, and ordered him to pay €1,100 costs, all payable to South Dublin County Council.

Mr Behan asked the judge to make a destruction order for the dog. He said that if the dog was out it could attack again. He said the dog is showing signs of aggression in the pound to other dogs.

Judge Coghlan made the destruction order but put a stay on it of 15 days which will allow Murray to appeal.