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Coroner calls for “Jade’s Law” to tighten up control of dangerous dogs (27 October 2014)

Date: 27/10/2014
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, Coroner calls for “Jade’s Law” to tighten up control of dangerous dogs

A Coroner is calling for dog licences to be re-introduced, following the death of a 14-year-old girl who was mauled by a pack of dogs at a friend’s house in Atherton, Manchester.

BBC News reports that Jade Anderson was attacked by four dogs while staying with her friend for a sleepover in March 2013.

Coroner Alan Walsh is to ask the government to reconsider the re-introduction of dog licences – but said the dangers were not linked to specific breeds, but to the control of dogs in general.

Mr Walsh made his comments at an inquest into the death of Jade Anderson.

The dogs’ owner, Beverley Concannon, admitted causing suffering to the four dogs and received a 16-week suspended jail sentence. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that there was insufficient evidence to bring a charge of gross negligence against Mrs Concannon.

The inquest heard, however, that the four dogs were never taken for walks – and also “terrorised” neighbours.

A prosecution under the Dangerous Dogs Act was also not possible because the dogs were not out-of-control in a public place and were not breeds that were banned in the UK.

The case was partly the basis for amendments made to the Dangerous Dogs Act, which came into force in May this year.

Previously dog attacks and dog bites which took place on private property were a civil matter, regardless of the circumstances. This mean those injured in dog attacks on private property could not claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, but had to bring a personal injury case in the civil court.

The amendments to the Act have made dog attacks on private property subject to criminal law. If a conviction is obtained a victim can claim compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme – including claims for fatal injures made by the family of a victim who has been killed in a dog attack.

Dog licences were abolished in 1987 and the Coroner said that, although amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act extended an owner’s responsibilities to controlling their dogs on private property, the changes in the law had not gone far enough.

He suggested that “Jade’s Law” could be introduced to strengthen controls on all dangerous dogs – not just banned breeds.

Jade had been left alone in the kitchen after her friend Kimberley – Mrs Concannon’s daughter – had gone to a neighbour’s house to warm a meat pie in the microwave. Jade was found dead in the kitchen when her friend returned. The inquest heard she had been savaged “from head to toe” by the four dogs – two large mastiffs and two Staffordshire terriers. Jade was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Coroner returned a narrative verdict, concluding Jade died as a result of injuries sustained when she was attacked by more than one dog.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Dog Bite Claims/ Animal Attack Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise on making no win no fee Dog Bite Claims and compensation claims for unprovoked animal attacks in homes, parks, zoos, farms and public places.

Personal injury claimants have three years from the date of injury in which to make no win no fee compensation claims for dog bites or animal attacks – and children can claim for three years after the age of 18.

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can also advise the families of those who have been killed as a result of dog attacks or animal attacks on how to make no win no fee Fatal Injury Claims.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Dog Bite Claims and compensation claims for Animal Attacks, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.


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