DEVIL DOGS
Horror Limerick dog attack details as relative ‘first at traumatic scene’ after alarm raised when CCTV seen on mobile
Tragic Nicole was horrifically injured at the rural Limerick house she was renting
A YOUNG woman was mauled to death by her devil dogs in a horror attack after she returned home from celebrating her 23rd birthday.
Nicole Morey was said to have treated her dogs as if they were “her children” — but two of them, all of which were restricted breeds — lethally pounced on her.
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The tragic woman was horrifically injured at the rural Limerick house she was renting on Tuesday night.
And despite the efforts of medics she was pronounced dead at the scene at Ballyneety.
It is understood that a man linked to Nicole had access to CCTV footage of the horror through his phone and raised the alarm with emergency services.
And we’ve learned one of her relatives was among the first to come across the bloody scene.
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The four mutts — understood to be two XL Bullies and two Staffordshire Bull Terriers — were “extremely aggressive” at the property when first responders arrived around 11pm.
The Regional Armed Support Unit had to shoot an XL Bully because of the threat it continued to pose to emergency workers.
Nicole’s devastated granduncle last night told how she had been out for her birthday before being leapt on by the vicious hounds.
Anthony O’Donnell, 58, said he found out while on holiday as distressed family members called him.
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Speaking from Spain, he said: “She was out for her birthday, she was 23, and, she went home, opened the hall door to go in home when the dog attacked her, jumped out on top of her and attacked her.
“By the time the gardai got there, the dogs were mauling her, the gardai couldn’t really get them off of her.
“They had to shoot the dog to get him off of her, that’s what I’m hearing from family members that are ringing me.”
Paramedics desperately worked on Nicole for over an hour before her death was confirmed.
'Horrific and prolonged death'
A source told The Irish Sun: “This poor woman suffered a horrific and prolonged death. The dogs were all restricted breeds and incredibly aggressive to those first on the scene.
“It is very traumatising for her family, not only to lose a loved one but in this nature, how they learned of the whole incident. Just shocking.”
Mr O’Donnell added: “She was a lovely girl, with a great heart, would do you a good turn rather than any turn. She was a decent girl, quiet, she kept to herself.”
Mr O’Donnell said that two young women who were staying in the same hotel as him in Spain told him that Nicole was known for posting photos of herself and the dogs on social media.
'Used to treat the dogs like babies'
He said: “There’s two young girls here and they know her and they said she used to treat the dogs like babies.
“They said she used to have Snapchats up and on Facebook with the dogs inside in bed with her, that they were like her children.
“I said to them it just goes to show you can’t trust dogs. You can’t trust any dog, but especially those dogs, they are bred to kill.”
Flowers and tributes were left outside the property yesterday as cops analysed the scene. The cordon was lifted around 3pm.
ARE ANY DOG BREEDS BANNED IN IRELAND?
No breed of dog is currently banned in Ireland. But with certain breeds of dog, additional rules must be followed.
This applies to the following types of dog, as well as strains or cross-breeds of these breeds:
- American pit bull terrier
- English bull terrier
- Staffordshire bull terrier
- Bull mastiff
- Dobermann pinscher
- German shepherd (Alsatian)
- Rhodesian ridgeback
- Rottweiler
- Japanese akita
- Japanese tosa
- Bandog
In Ireland, restricted dogs or strains and crosses of them must be:
- Kept on a short strong lead of under two metres
- With someone over the age of 16, who is able to control them
- Muzzled when in a public place
- Wearing a collar with the name and address of their owner, at all times
But Minister Heather Humphreys confirmed more severe rules could be on the cards, saying: "I have asked the Group to examine the restricted breeds list, in line with actions being taken in the UK and Northern Ireland.
"I am committed to working with colleagues across Government in taking whatever action is necessary to strengthen our dog control laws."
Nicole, originally from Limerick city, had lived in the property for the past 12 months.
Her sister Jolene spoke of her agony on social media yesterday.
She wrote: “My heart is shattered once again. On your birthday I only hung up on you 2 seconds before I really tried my best to help I’m so sorry Nicole. I love you so much. It feels like a bit bad dream.”
Jolene said that a balloon release will take place in Nicole’s memory outside their mother’s home in Limerick today.
'Didn't deserve it'
She added: “My poor sister didn’t deserve it. I will love and miss Nicole.”
Video footage of the incident made its way onto social media yesterday as the Gardai urged people not to share it.
Officers are examining the full CCTV footage from the front porch of the house as part of its probe.
The three surviving dogs were taken in by the local dog warden. The first gardai who responded to the scene were being encouraged to engage with welfare services.
'Traumatising'
Another source said: “The scene was a shocking thing the gardai witnessed along with other frontline responders. It was horrific and traumatising.”
Justice Minister Helen McEntee called for bans on certain breeds of dogs following the incident.
Asked if they were needed, she said: “I think there should be, yes.
“Where a dog is known to be potentially vicious, where there is a pattern of particular dogs, then we do need to go further here.”
'Just should not happen'
She added: “Things like this just should not happen. My thoughts are with the young woman’s family and the wider community.
“This is not something we see happen very often and it is very distressing for everybody involved.
“There were gardai on the scene very quickly and a number of
dogs that had to be taken away and one put down.
“I think it is only right that we have an investigation into what happened here and that we understand the facts and how we can ensure that this does not happen again.”
'Absolutely appalled'
Rural Development Minister Heather Humphreys — who is in charge of dog controls — said that she was “absolutely appalled” by what had unfolded.
She sent her sympathies to Nicole’s family and friends. But she also referred to a cross Governmental stakeholder group she has set up to look at the whole topic.
Minister Humphreys said: “I have asked the group to examine the restricted breeds list, in line with actions being taken in the UK and Northern Ireland.
“I am committed to working with colleagues across Government in taking whatever action is necessary to strengthen our dog control laws.”
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