A MAN who alerted emergency services about a fatal dog attack in which Limerick woman Nicole Morey died last Tuesday night (June 4), “did all he possibly could” to help her, sources close to the investigation into her death have said.
The man had access to a security camera video feed of the scene of the attack, but was not at the scene and was not physically able to assist Ms Morey, who was attacked by her four dogs and killed.
Ms Morey, a native of Limerick City, returned to a home she was renting in Fedamore, County Limerick, at around 11.30pm last Tuesday night after celebrating her 23rd birthday.
When she turned the keys in the door to enter her home, she was attacked by her four dogs.
A senior Garda source confirmed that all four dogs were breeds that are included on a “restricted dog breeding list” and are all banned in the UK, however no such ban exists in Ireland.
The Garda source also confirmed that all four dogs have since been destroyed by the authorities.
The senior source confirmed that Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster conducted a post mortem on the body of Ms Morey today (Thursday).
The source said the autopsy results were “not being released for operational reasons”, although Gardaí did not suspect any foul play in respect of Ms Morey’s death.
The Garda source reiterated that the man who was alerted to the attack via a CCTV video feed had firstly contacted emergency services after being alerted to the attack.
After alerting emergency services, who then alerted Gardaí and paramedics, the man shared the CCTV footage with Ms Morey’s family in order to alert them to the incident.
“The individual that had access to the footage, and that saw the incident occur, was not in the vicinity of the house and was largely helpless, so they contacted the emergency services first,” the source said.
The footage was widely shared thereafter by unknown parties, sparking a Garda appeal requesting the public “not to share these videos out of respect for the deceased”.
Balloons released for Nicole
A vigil held this Thursday night in memory of Ms Morey at her mother Lisa Morey’s home at Bawnmore View, Crossagalla, Limerick, was attended by over 200 people.
Ms Morey’s sister Jolene led a countdown at the vigil before hundreds of coloured balloons were released into the sky as a selection of Ms Morey’s favourite songs were played.
Members of Ms Morey’s family wept and comforted one another as neighbours and friends embraced them under a canopy of balloons.
A senior Garda source confirmed that emergency services were the first to arrive at the scene of the fatal dog attack on Tuesday, followed by a member of Ms Morey’s family.
Gardaí attached to the Regional Armed Support Unit took encountered four “aggressive dogs” there, shooting and killing one, and restraining the other three, which were taken into the custody of a dog warden and later destroyed.
Despite efforts by the emergency services to save Ms Morey, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wild speculation
The senior Garda source said Gardaí were aware of wild speculation being spread around the circumstances of the fatal dog attack.
This speculation has not been helpful to the investigation, they said, and there was no evidence to suggest any foul play was involved.
The investigation into Ms Morey’s death was continuing, led by Roxboro Road Garda Station (061 214 340).
