[https://courtsnewsireland.ie/co-mayo-man-sentenced-over-dog-attack-leaving-woman-with-life-changing-injuries/2026/02/20/](https://courtsnewsireland.ie/co-mayo-man-sentenced-over-dog-attack-leaving-woman-with-life-changing-injuries/2026/02/20/)

A man whose dog savagely mauled a woman, leaving her with life-changing injuries, has been jailed for four years for this and separate offences, including assaulting two gardaí.

David Barrett (41) of Ballymacredmond, Knockmore, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm of Sandra Killeen, who had been walking her dog with her young son at Mount Falcon estate when she was attacked on November 20, 2022.

In a ruling at Castlebar Circuit Court today, Judge Eoin Garavan said the restricted Bullmastiff-Pitbull dog had been ‘unmuzzled and wandering loose’ on the grounds when he ‘savagely attacked’ Ms Killeen, of Tavanaghmore, Foxford.

Judge Garavan said Ms Killeen had suffered ‘appalling, life-changing injuries,’ as well as emotional scars which have left her terrified of dogs.

The court heard that Ms Killeen’s nine-year-old son thought his mother was dead when she was lying on the ground unconscious following the attack.

‘This lady almost lost her left arm,’ said the judge, describing how Ms Killeen endured two and a half hours of stitching and emergency surgery.

Judge Garavan said Barrett initially denied having anything to do with the attack or knowing anything about the dog.

‘He should have had control of his dog and he didn’t,’ said Judge Garavan, although he accepted that it was an ‘indirect assault’ and that Barrett had no intention to inflict injury.

‘I don’t believe he had ill-feeling in his heart (…) but these dogs are vicious and he shows a casual attitude toward danger and allowing innocent people to come up against such animals,’ said Judge Garavan.

At a previous sitting, the court heard that the dog in question had approached Ms Killeen growling, prompting her to pick up her own dog and tell her young son to ‘run away’.

She was then viciously mauled and knocked to the ground before two passersby managed to intervene and beat off the dog with a stick.

Ms Killeen suffered multiple puncture wounds and severe lacerations to both arms, her chest, back thigh and groin. She feared she was going to die before passing out from pain and exhaustion.

Surgeons said she was lucky not to lose her arm after she had to undergo two and a half hours of stitching at Mayo General Hospital followed by emergency surgery at Galway University Hospital.

Ms Killeen suffers ongoing nerve pain and restricted mobility in her arm, as well as panic attacks, flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety.

In a victim impact statement heard previously, Ms Killeen described the effects of the ‘terrifying, traumatic and relentless’ attack on herself and on her young son.

She said she went from being someone who loved the outdoors to ‘a former shell’ of herself who cannot walk alone and flinches every time she sees or hears a dog.

Ms Killeen said the attack has had profound emotional and psychological effects on her and her family, particularly on her son, who believed his mother was dead when she stopped screaming.

She expressed extreme gratitude to the two passersby whom she credited with saving her life.

Judge Garavan also sentenced Barrett in relation to separate incidents, during which he attacked two female gardaí who had responded to reports of a domestic disturbance at his home.

Barrett pleaded guilty to assaulting Garda Laura Shevlin and Garda Sharon Rooney outside his home on July 16, 2024.

The court heard Barrett was heavily intoxicated when the two gardaí arrived and he jumped over a gate, lunging and spitting at the women before punching Gda Rooney twice with a closed fist.

The officers had to use pepper spray and call members of the Armed Support Unit to arrest Barrett.

The court heard Gda Rooney has not yet returned to work after the incident while Gda Shevlin has resigned from the force.

Barrett has 34 previous convictions.

Judge Garavan noted Barrett’s ‘animus’ and ‘appalling behaviour’ towards gardaí, who were just doing their job.

The court heard that Barrett has behaved reasonably well in custody and has attended an anger management course.

Judge Garavan handed him a global sentence for all offences of five years in prison, with the final year suspended.

That includes a sentence of two years for the dog attack and three years for assaulting the two gardaí, after mitigation has been factored in.

The sentence was backdated to July 2024 when Barrett went into custody.

Barrett was ordered to engage in mental health services and other therapeutic interventions aimed at addressing negative thought patterns and overall attitude.

He was also instructed to engage in substance addiction treatment and to undergo probation supervision for one year on his release.

Mayo man jailed over dog attack that left woman with life changing injuries - Mount Falcon Ireland - November 20, 2022