A WOMAN has been hospitalised after a dog attack in Cork.
The woman suffered serious injuries after being attacked by the dog in the Ballyvolane area around 6pm on Friday.
The incident occurred in a housing estate and the woman’s screams for help alerted local residents.
Horrified residents desperately tried to help the woman, aged in her 30s, and attempted to fend off the dog.
The large animal had apparently knocked the woman to the ground and was attempting to maul her arms, face and head.
Courageous locals rushed to the scene and tried to get the dog away from the woman and protect her from further injury.
At least one other person suffered bite injuries as they bravely tried to protect the woman.
Gardaí, supported by armed officers, attended the scene along with paramedics and dog control officers.
The animal was brought under control and removed from the estate.
The injured woman was treated at the scene before being rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital (CUH).
She is being treated for serious injuries and is expected to undergo emergency surgery.
The other individual who suffered bite injuries during the incident was treated at the scene but did not require hospitalisation.
An investigation into the precise circumstances of the incident is now underway.
It is unclear precisely what breed of dog was involved in the attack.
Ireland has witnessed a number of serious dog attacks over recent years.
Two people, including a young baby, died in separate maulings in Waterford in 2021 and in Limerick in 2024.
A young boy was left with serious facial injuries after he was attacked by an XL Bully dog in Wexford in 2022.
A woman narrowly escaped fatal injuries in Cork in 2016 when she was attacked by her partner’s bull terrier and surgeons had to fight to save her arm.
The involvement of the XL Bully breed in a number of serious dog attacks in both Ireland and Europe prompted special control measures to be introduced for the breed.