High Court Action Against Kildare County Council Over Dog Attack Settled For €36,500

That's according to a report in the Irish Times

A girl who sued Kildare County Council over an alleged dog attack at a local authority house has settled her case for €36,500.

According to a report in today's Irish Times, Patrycja Cisowski, who suffered scarring on her thighs from the incident, claimed she was attacked by a Belgian Shepherd dog while visiting a house in Cois na Feadain in Naas on March 24th, 2015.

Patrycja, who was there for a playdate, said the dog, owned by the tenants of the house, attacked and bit her without warning.

Kildare County Council denied the allegations.

Karen Nolan BL, representing Patrycja and instructed by solicitor Liam Moloney, informed the court that the settlement amount includes legal costs.

The local authority has denied any responsibility for the incident.

Ms. Nolan stated that Patrycja was just five years old at the time of the attack.

She also mentioned that Kildare County Council had filed a full defense, claiming there was no legal basis for the suit and that the council had no involvement in the care, control, or supervision of the dog.

Patrycja Cisowski (15), from Radharc an Caisleán, Naas, sued the dog’s owner - Dylan and Brendan Doran, and Bernadette Dawson of Cois na Feadain, Naas - along with Kildare County Council.

The lawsuit claimed the property was inadequately secured, allowing the dog to roam freely, and that the dog was not properly controlled. 

Additionally, the suit accused the council of permitting the dog, described as a guard dog, to stay in the house in violation of the tenancy agreement. It was also claimed that the council failed to take adequate action in response to prior complaints about the dog’s behavior.

Kildare County Council denied these allegations, asserting that the dog was under the control of the tenants at all times and was not a guard dog.

In an affidavit, Patrycja’s father, Robert Cisowski, stated that his daughter still has permanent, visible scarring on her right thigh, though it had improved when examined two years ago.

According to the Irish Times, approving the settlement in the High Court today (Monday), Ms. Justice Nuala Jackson acknowledged potential liability issues and noted the improvement in Patrycja’s scarring.