Tomas worked as a gas meter reader for a utility company in Galway, visiting hundreds of homes each month as part of his regular duties. One afternoon in spring, while accessing a meter at a residential property, he was bitten by a dog that had been left unsecured in the garden area. The bite was severe enough to require medical attention, leaving him with an infection and several weeks unable to work. When he reported the incident to his employer, he was told it was his own fault for not reading the warning signs properly, as if failing to notice a dog's behaviour somehow absolved the homeowner of responsibility.
Tomas felt deflated by this response. He had done nothing wrong—he was simply performing his job in a place where he had every right to be. The infection from the bite kept him off work for six weeks, and he lost significant income during that period. Worse, his employer's dismissive attitude suggested they would offer no support. Tomas decided to seek legal advice and discovered that under Irish law, the homeowner's strict liability made their blame-shifting completely unfounded. He instructed a solicitor to pursue a claim for his injuries and lost earnings.
The homeowner's insurance company eventually settled the claim without going to court. The settlement covered Tomas's medical expenses, his loss of earnings during his recovery period, and compensation for pain and suffering. The case reinforced an important principle: employers cannot dodge responsibility by suggesting workers should have avoided dangers that property owners are legally obliged to control. Tomas received the compensation he deserved, and his employer learned a valuable lesson about supporting employees injured in the course of their work.
Under the Control of Dogs Act 1986, the owner of a dog is strictly liable for any injury or damage caused by that dog, regardless of whether the dog has previously shown aggressive behaviour or whether the owner took any precautions. This means that if a dog bites someone, the owner is legally responsible even if they claim they had no warning the dog would bite. The only exceptions are limited, such as if the injured person was trespassing or if the injury arose from the injured person's own negligence in deliberately provoking the dog.
Strict liability is a powerful protection for workers like Tomas, whose jobs require them to enter private properties. The homeowner cannot claim they didn't know the dog was dangerous or that the bitten person should have been more careful. The owner's responsibility is absolute.
If you have been bitten by a dog, you must bring a claim within two years from the date of the incident. After two years, the right to pursue compensation is lost forever under Irish civil law. If the bite happened to a child, the two-year clock begins on their 18th birthday. Do not delay—contact a solicitor as soon as possible to protect your rights and preserve evidence.
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