The family of a young Co Wexford boy who suffered serious facial injuries after he was attacked by a pit bull say they are “happy we got justice” as a man and woman were jailed for two years.
Alejandro Mizsan was nine when he was attacked by an XL Bully dog while playing with friends in Enniscorthy in November 2022.
He suffered horrific injuries to his face, body and legs.
On Friday at Wexford Circuit Court, Karen Miller and Niall Byrne were sentenced to two years in connection with the attack.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard Alejandro will require intensive ongoing treatment and “suffers depression after the massive trauma.”
A medical report stated he suffered a complete tear opening from ear to ear, the complete removal of his lower lip and puncture wounds to both thighs and left chest.
The court heard four days prior to the attack, the same dog targeted a 10-year-old boy, who was left with cuts to his forehead.
Karen Miller (38) pleaded guilty to two charges of endangerment in relation to the attack and a separate attack on another child on 23 November 2022.
She also pleaded guilty to obstructing gardai by failing to inform them where the dog was while it was being put down inhumanely.
Byrne, who has 68 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the inhumane destruction of the XL Bully on November 23, 2022 and to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to two people.
He admitted killing the animal.
The court heard the dog was not microchipped, had no dog licence and was not registered.
In sentencing the pair, Judge McCourt said “people can’t be running around with unlicensed pitbull dogs with kids and young people around.
“There was a close shave on November 23, 2022 when a boy escaped with a few scratches involving the same dog.
“It’s clear you hadn’t learnt a lesson and didn’t heed the first warning.”
The judge said it has had a “traumatic affect on the child and his family who lost jobs and expenses incurred”.
“You had a beautiful child and you still have a beautiful child and obviously a brave young man,” he said.
He added: “We read about pitbull terriers and unfortunate incidents like this happen too often.
Jailing Miller to three years with the final 12 months suspended, the judge said “there has to be deterrents”.
He sentenced Byrne to three years in prison and gave him credit for 12 months already spent in custody, reduced it to two years.
Speaking after sentencing, Alejandro’s brother Raul said they were “happy we got justice”.
“There is nothing that I can change about what happened to my brother. At the moment he is recovering step-by-step.
“Mentally it’s very hard, it’s very hard for him looking in the mirror.
“He is always asking if it is going to be like this for life.”
Irish government minister Heather Humphreys recently said she would support XL Bully dogs being added to a fresh list of restricted breeds as well as a doubling of on-the-spot fines of up to €300 for people who do not control their dogs appropriately.
New rules are being introduced in Northern Ireland to restrict the ownership of XL bully dogs, with owners required to get an exemption certificate.