Nicole Morey, a young woman from Limerick, was celebrating her 23rd birthday when she was tragically mauled to death by her own dogs.

Nicole treated her pets like her children, often sharing photos and videos of them on social media.

Unfortunately, her beloved dogs turned on her in a horrific incident that has shocked the local community and raised serious questions about the safety of certain dog breeds.

The Incident

The fatal attack occurred just before midnight on Tuesday when Nicole returned to her rented home in the rural area of Fedamore, Limerick. As she opened the door, two of her four dogs, both understood to be restricted breeds, attacked her. The vicious assault left her with catastrophic injuries, including the loss of her arm. The entire incident was captured on CCTV, and a man known to Nicole reportedly had access to the footage, which he shared with her horrified family.

Immediate Response

The man who had the CCTV footage was also the one who alerted emergency services. Paramedics arrived quickly but were unable to reach Nicole due to the aggression of the dogs.

Armed officers had to shoot one of the dogs to get it off her and used pepper spray to subdue the remaining three.

The dogs involved were identified as two XL Bullies and two Staffordshire Bull Terriers, all described as extremely aggressive.

Family’s Heartbreak and Public Appeal

Nicole’s granduncle, Anthony O’Donnell, who was on holiday in Spain at the time, described the family’s shock and grief.

“She was out for her birthday, she was 23, and went home, opened the hall door to go in when the dog attacked her,” Mr. O’Donnell said.

He paid tribute to his grandniece, describing her as a “lovely girl with a great heart” who was “decent and quiet.”

A Loving Pet Owner

Nicole was well-known for her affectionate relationship with her dogs. Friends and acquaintances recalled how she treated them like her children, often posting photos and videos of them on social media.

In one TikTok video, she is seen dancing with her dog, with the caption expressing her love and indifference to others’ opinions about the breed’s aggressiveness.

Calls for Action

In response to the tragedy, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has expressed support for banning certain dog breeds in Ireland, including the XL Bully.

Currently, there are restrictions on some breeds, but no outright bans. Minister McEntee emphasized the need to protect people from potentially vicious dogs, even within their own homes.

Governmental Review

Following this incident, Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, announced that a cross-governmental stakeholder group would examine the issue.

This group, chaired by retired Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey, aims to review existing regulations and propose measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Community in Mourning

The local community in Limerick is in shock. Family friend and local priest, Fr Richard Davern, led prayers for Nicole and expressed the community’s collective grief. “Everyone is just shocked, it’s horrific,” Fr Davern said.

He highlighted Nicole’s aspirations to become a Special Needs Assistant, reflecting on the tragic loss of her potential.

Appeal for Sensitivity

Gardaí have urged the public not to share the graphic footage of the attack out of respect for Nicole and her family.

They have also cordoned off the area around Nicole’s home for ongoing investigations. Local councillors have echoed the sentiments of shock and sympathy, calling for greater awareness and precautionary measures regarding restricted dog breeds.