Donegal dog attack victim rushed to hospital

A man had to be rushed to hospital after being attacked by a dog while out running.

The man was on the greenway between the villages of Muff and Quigley’s Point on Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula, when he was set upon by the dog after midday on Sunday, according to reports.

The dog, understood to be a Rottweiler, was being walked on a lead by its female owner at the time. The animal was not muzzled at the time of the attack. It managed to break free from its owner and chased the man before biting him a number of times on the leg.

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The victim, who is in his 20s, was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry where he underwent emergency treatment. It is understand that Gardai have this morning identified the dog at the centre of the incident.

Gardai have now launched an investigation into the incident. Local County Councillor Terry Crossan said he is horrified by the attack. The Sinn Fein politician said: “I want to pay particular praise to the Gardai in dealing with this situation and taking control of it once they realised the seriousness of this incident. This man was lucky to escape even though his injuries are very serious. If this was a child the consequences could have been much worse and it’s not even worth considering that.”

Councillor Crossan said he now plans to bring forward a motion to Donegal County Council surrounding the whole area of dog control and dog warden services in the county. The attack comes less than two weeks after a 23-year-old woman died in a dog attack in Co Limerick.

Nicole Morley died after being mauled to death by her own XL Bully dog when she entered her home after being out celebrating her birthday. The tragedy has once again opened up the debate on some dog breeds and the possibility of certain breeds being banned in the Republic of Ireland.

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