Courts

Girl (10) bitten on face by border collie settles High Court claim for €185,000

Attack took place as child was attending equestrian facility in Dunsany, Co Meath

A border collie sheepdog gave chase to the girl as she ran to her mother, the court heard. Stock image: Getty
A border collie sheepdog gave chase to the girl as she ran to her mother, the court heard. Stock image: Getty
Mon Dec 09 2024 - 16:25

A girl who was bitten on the face by a border collie sheepdog as she fed chickens on a farm has settled a High Court action for €185,000.

Sibéal Flynn was 10 years of age when the dog attacked her, knocked her to the ground and bit her about the face several times. She managed to escape when another of the farm dogs intervened to stop it.

However, she suffered claw scratch marks to her back and thighs from when the sheepdog gave chase as she ran to her mother.

Sibéal had been feeding the chickens with her sister when the sheepdog attacked her two years ago.

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Her counsel, Liam Bell, told the High Court it was a very severe attack at the open farm at Swainstown House, Dunsany, Co Meath. Sibéal was taken by ambulance to hospital, where she had to get 50 stitches to her face and surgery to repair the bite wound. She spent three days in hospital.

Mr Bell said she has been left with a 30mm curved scar around her lip area.

She also suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the attack and had flashbacks and nightmares about the incident.

Sibéal Flynn, now aged 11 years, of Castleknock, Dublin, had through her mother, Samantha Stephens, sued the farm owners John and Arthur Preston, of Swainstown House, over the attack which took place as the children who were attending an equestrian facility at Swainstown House on August 16th, 2023.

In an affidavit to the court, Ms Stephens said she was at Swainstown House with her three daughters. She said her older daughter had finished riding and Sibéal and her other sister went to feed the chickens.

Ms Stephens said her daughter was subjected to a very severe attack and was bleeding profusely. She said she lost consciousness at one stage and was shocked and terrified in the aftermath.

She said the attack had an ongoing impact on her daughter who suffered nightmares and flashbacks of the attack. She said Sibéal is afraid of dogs outside the house even though they had three pet dogs at home and she had no issues with them.

Approving the settlement, Ms Justice Nuala Jackson said it was an appropriate settlement for what must have been a frightening and difficult experience for the child. She wished Sibéal and her family well.