Girl attacked by Border collie sheepdog on open farm settles case for €185,000
Girl suffered PTSD following the attack and had flashbacks and nightmares about the incident. File picture
A young girl who was attacked by a Border collie sheepdog and bitten on the face as she fed chickens on an open farm has settled a High Court action for €185,000.
Sibeal Flynn was only 10 years of age when she was set upon by the dog, knocked to the ground and bitten about the face several times before another of the farm dogs intervened to stop it and she managed to escape.
However, the little girl also suffered claw scratch marks to her back and thighs from when the sheepdog gave chase as she ran holding her mouth to her mother.
Sibeal had been feeding the chickens with her sister when the sheepdog attacked her.
Her counsel, Liam Bell BL, told the High Court it was a very severe attack at the open farm at Swainstown House, Dunsany, Co Meath two years ago. The little girl was taken to hospital by ambulance where she had to get 50 stitches to her face and she also had to have surgery to repair the bite and spent three days in hospital.
Sibeal, counsel said, had been left with a 30mm long curved scar around her lip area.
She also suffered PTSD following the attack and had flashbacks and nightmares about the incident.
Sibeal 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, fed the chickens on August 16, 2023.
In an affidavit to the court, Sibeal’s mother said she was at Swainstown House with her three daughters and one of her daughters was using the equestrian centre on the farm. She said her older daughter had finished riding and Sibeal and another sister went to feed the chickens.
Ms Stephens said her daughter while feeding the chickens was subjected to a very severe attack and she was bleeding profusely. She said her daughter, who also lost consciousness at one stage, was shocked and terrified in the aftermath of the attack.
She said an ambulance was called but the crew had difficulty controlling the bleeding from Sibeal’s face and she was transferred to hospital.
A CT scan showed there was no fracture to the jaw but Sibeal was operated on the next day to repair the bites and was discharged from hospital on August 19, with follow-up in the plastic surgery clinic on two occasions.
She said the attack had an on going impact on her daughter, who suffered nightmares and flashbacks of the attack, and she was 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, who examined the girl’s scarring, said it was an appropriate settlement for what must have been a frightening and difficult experience for the child. She wished Sibeal and her family well.
