Ballinasloe, Co Galway – A five-year-old girl from Kilclooney has reached a settlement in her High Court case after being attacked by a golden retriever as a toddler. Mia Kate Nolan was with her mother near their home when the dog came from behind, forcefully clamping its jaws on her head, knocking her over, and causing serious injuries that required hospitalization and surgery.
The incident, which occurred four years ago when Mia was just 19 months old, left her with scars on her scalp and upper neck. Despite undergoing surgery to repair multiple scalp lacerations, her scars have since matured, and no further surgical intervention is needed.
Through her mother, Leslie Nolan, Mia sued the dog’s owners, Declan and Ann O’Grady, alleging that their dog attacked her without provocation and that they failed to properly control or restrain the animal. The lawsuit also claimed that the O’Gradys should have known about the dog’s propensity to attack people in the vicinity of their property and failed to implement adequate warning systems.
In approving the €115,000 settlement, Ms. Justice Nuala Jackson acknowledged the severity of the incident and the impact it had on young Mia. The resolution of the case highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and the potential consequences of failing to properly train and control animals.
While Mia’s physical scars may have healed, the emotional trauma of the attack is likely to have a lasting impact. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety of both children and animals in our communities, and the need for pet owners to take appropriate measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.