Hefty fine for Longford labrador owner after 'dangerous' dog 'charged' at and bit neighbour

A county Longford dog owner whose labrador bit a close neighbour causing her injuries has been convicted and has received a hefty €1,000 fine.

Mary Dennany of Coolnahinch, county Longford pleaded not guilty at the local district court to a charge that her labrador, who was described as 'dangerous' during the special hearing, was not kept under proper control at Coolnahinch on May 12, 2023.

The complainant said she lived a short distance away from the defendant's home and at around 4.30pm on the date in question she decided to go for her regular walk when she was bitten twice.

"I went down towards my neighbour Mary's house from my own home but on this evening I didn't even get as far as Mary's gate when I saw a dog running out of her driveway.

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"One of the dog's charged at me, his teeth were up and the next thing he grabbed me by the leg and then all of a sudden he grabbed me by the arm.

"I was trying to fight him off, I was in shock with the dog biting me and I kept stepping back."

The injured party, who estimated her neighbour had '13 or 14 dogs', said she managed to get back to the front entrance of her own house and she got inside and she collapsed in the hallway.

The court heard the victim's daughter raised the alarm and phoned an ambulance and notified the Gardaí.

Garda Alan Doherty said he attended a call at at 5pm on May 12, 2023 in 'relation to a dog bite' that had occurred earlier that evening.

The officer said he met a female complainant who lived in a house that was a very short distance away the defendant's residence and on the same side of the road.

"She was sitting at the front door on the step with a large cut to her leg and she started to inform me that she was out for a walk and she was attacked by a black dog who came from the next door property, which would be Mary Dennany's residence.

"I was also informed that an ambulance was on route and it was called to attend and assist her."

Garda Doherty said the injured party also gave her permission to photograph her at the scene and the officer handed several of them into presiding Judge Vincent Deane which captured the victim's injured left leg.

"As you can see the pants was ripped and there is an elastic blood stain mark on her thigh."

Garda Doherty explained the next photograph was a close-up of the wound and he subsequently handed in another photograph of the scene following the attack.

"When the ambulance first attended the scene myself and Garda Rachel Carlin went across the road to Mary Dennany's residence.

"Before we entered the property I observed that the gate of the property was half opened and I took out my State issued phone and I took pictures of the gate itself.

"As you can see the gate is half open and the two dogs in the picture are running around the area."

Garda Doherty said himself and Garda Carlin drove into the property and as they observed a black dog who was 'really agitated'.

"This dog was snarling and barking and myself and Garda Carlin were unable to get out of the patrol car to alert the person inside the house that the dog was going mad."

Garda Doherty said a woman who was inside the residence came out and identified herself as Mary Dennany's mother and said that her daughter was the owner of the labrador and at work.

"This dog was completely volatile, at that stage no guards could exit the car, he was snarling away at the patrol car and it was highly dangerous for any gardaí or any person to go near this dog then as it would have resulted in more injuries."

Garda Doherty said he telephoned the owner and informed her of the situation and she returned a short time later and Ms Dennany was invited to make a caution statement in relation to the incident but she refused to do so.

Ms Dennany, who took the stand, said she returned home and she brought the dog to a vet who told her the dog was very calm, content and placid and she claimed the vet found it difficult to believe the dog had been aggressive and volatile.

She claimed the vet "refused to put the dog down without a court order" which she said she was informed was necessary to dispose of the dog.

Ms Dennany also stated she had closed the gate to her driveway when she had went to work earlier in the day and she was satisfied her dogs, including the black labrador, were secure when she left.

Judge Vincent Deane asked what had happened to the dog and solicitor Anthony Feeney, defending, said his instructions were that the dog had been given away.

Judge Deane said he did not believe dogs had free will and his interpretation of 'thy shall not permit' is that the owner takes whatever measures are necessary to keep the dog either at their premises or the residence of the person in charge of the dog.

"I don't accept that if the gate is open and they did not open it that that excuses them.

"In terms of mitigation I don't believe there is any real remorse and based on the jurisdiction of the court and the viciousness of the dog I will impose a fine of €1,000 with six months to pay."

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