XL Bully that killed proprietor on her birthday ‘needed to be shot 4 instances’
- The victim, named locally as Nicole Morey, died near her house in Co. Limerick
An XL Bully that killed its owner on her 23rd birthday had to be shot four times as police tried to stop it attacking its victim, according to reports.
Nicole Morey, who reportedly owned four dogs, recently posted on Facebook to say her XL Bully was ‘freaking out’ and got ‘too excited’ before going on walks.
Just before midnight on Tuesday, Ms Morey was savaged by her pet before another of her dogs – believed to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier – ‘joined in’, a source told Sunday World.
The attack happened near her house in Ballyneety, Co. Limerick, where members of the Regional Armed Support Unit said they encountered ‘a number of aggressive dogs’.
Gardai said one of the raging animals had to be put down while the rest were seized.
Ms Morey was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was taken to University Hospital Limerick for a post-mortem.
Ms Morey is pictured with two pets. It is not known if either of the dogs pictured were involved
The young woman, named locally as Nicole Morey, was savaged by the dog at a house in Co. Limerick at around 11.40pm on Tuesday night
The young woman, who had been celebrating her 23rd birthday on Tuesday, previously shared pictures smiling alongside two of her pets. It is not clear if the animals were the ones involved in the attack.
She also said in a post on a dog training tips page in February: ‘When I go to put my xl on the lead for walks he’s freaking out running to the door out of excitement but nearly too excited for us to even get the lead and collar on him.’
XL Bullies are not banned in Ireland, but are subject to restrictions such as mandatory muzzles when in public, as in the UK.
The dog involved in the incident was put down and several others have been seized by the dog warden.
An anonymous source told Sunday World: ‘It was an XL Bully in a room with the girl and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There were two large dogs in another room.
‘They attacked the girl and she ran out the front door. Someone could see it happening on a camera – possibly a door bell camera.
‘She was (attacked) by the XL Bully, then the Staffordshire joined in.
‘An armed detective arrived, the dog was at the top of the stairs, he had to put four bullets into the dog to stop the dog.’
An investigation is under way and the scene, which locals have reportedly described as ‘horrific’. They added that police did everything they could in the situation.
The 23-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene following the attack on Tuesday night
Tributes have poured in for Ms Morey, who friends have described as the ‘kindest woman in the world’.
Paying tribute to her sister, Jolene Morey posted on Facebook: ‘My heart is shattered once again on your birthday.
‘I only hung up on you two seconds before I really tried my best to help. I’m so sorry Nicole I love you so much it feels like a bad dream.’
Local councillor Brigid Teefy described the incident as ‘terrible’.
‘I was talking to people on the phone and everybody is horrified,’ she said. ‘It’s a horrific story. It’s so rare that there’s an occurrence like that.’
Another councillor, Conor Sheehan, said the incident was ‘very, very tragic’ and that his sympathies go out to the woman’s family.
Councillor Adam Teskey also sent his condolences, and said there is shock among locals. ‘This is a harrowing moment in our community,’ he said.
Nicole’s sister Jolene posted on Facebook to pay tribute to her, saying: ‘My heart is shattered’
Rural Minister Heather Humphreys, who recently set up a group to examine dog control, said she was ‘appalled’ by the ‘deeply shocking incident’.
‘I was appalled and sickened when I heard the news this morning about this young woman who was savagely killed by a dog, and my thoughts and my prayers are with her family.’
In a statement, she said: ‘A Garda investigation is under way and it’s important we establish the facts on what happened.
‘I have consistently said that more action is required in relation to dog control.
‘That’s why I have set up a cross-governmental stakeholder group, chaired by the retired deputy garda commissioner John Twomey, to examine this whole area.’
She said she has asked the group to examine the restricted breeds list and whether Ireland should follow the example of the UK and Northern Ireland.
XL Bullies are not banned in Ireland, but are subject to restrictions such as mandatory muzzles when in public (file image)
‘If they recommend to me that we should ban a particular breed, I’m happy to do that. But I want to let them carry out their work because there’s a number of different views and different approaches on this and I want to make sure we get it right.’
There are several restricted breeds in Ireland, including German shepherds, rottweilers and various bull terriers, as well as some crosses.
Restricted dogs must be kept collared with their owner’s information on a tag, muzzled in public and on a short, strong lead with someone over the age of 16 who is able to control them.
Asked when the working group’s work will be completed, Ms Humphreys said they have held a number of meetings to date.
‘I will be speaking with the chair again today to find out exactly what their current situation is but I know they’ve met on a number of occasions already and these would be issues that they’ll be looking at,’ she said.
A Gardai spokesperon said: ‘At approximately 11.40pm last night, Tuesday 4th June 2024, Gardaí received report and attended an incident where a woman (23) was fatally injured following a dog attack at a domestic residence in Ballyneety, Co. Limerick.
‘The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.’
They added: ‘Her body has been removed from the scene to Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, where a Post Mortem examination will take place.
