Garda shoots XL Bully after aggressive dog cornered officers in Limerick

A GARDA shot an XL Bully after officers were cornered by the dog which was behaving aggressively, Limerick Live has learned.

The incident occurred in the back garden of a property in the Hyde Road area of Limerick city on Monday night.

A garda spokesperson said gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Armed Support Unit stopped a suspicious vehicle at approximately 9pm while on patrol in the Hyde Road area.

"The driver, a man in his 40s, attempted to evade Gardaí at the scene and fled by foot in possession of what was suspected by gardaí to be a large quantity of drugs.

"He was located by gardaí at a nearby property where he had attempted to dispose of the drugs. The man was subsequently arrested following the discovery of approximately €2,000 worth of cannabis herb in the garden of the property. The drugs are now subject to analysis," said the garda spokesperson.

He is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Limerick.

"Gardaí had entered the property with the owner's permission and while in the garden searching for the discharged drugs, gardaí were cornered by a dog of restricted breed.

"Due to the aggressiveness of the dog, a member of the Garda Armed Support Unit discharged a firearm in self-defence," said the garda spokesperson.

The dog, understood to be an XL Bully, was later taken into custody by the local dog warden with the assistance of the Garda Armed Support Unit for safety, said the garda spokesperson.

Limerick Live understands that the dog was later euthanised.

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"A referral has been made to the An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC)," said the garda spokesperson.

A Limerick City and County Council spokesperson confirmed two Limerick dog wardens assisted gardai during an operation in Limerick city last night.

"This was a garda operation and Limerick City and County Council has no further comment at this time," said the council spokesperson.