Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7556Dangerous dog attack on Garda · Co. Dublin

Dog accused of biting Garda to stay in kennel custody pending rehearing

A black Belgian Shepherd dog is accused of biting a Garda while its owner, Kevin O'Keefe, was being arrested at his home in Dublin last January, according to an article dated 11 August 2023. A Garda complaint under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 was made to the District Court a few days after the alleged attack, and a District Court judge later granted an order directing that the dog be destroyed. O'Keefe's lawyers brought High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, and a stay was placed on the destruction order. The latest development is a High Court ruling by Mr Justice Garrett Simons that the dog must stay in professional kennel custody until the euthanasia application is determined, with both sides broadly agreeing the case should return to the District Court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court11 Aug
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A black Belgian Shepherd dog, known as Theo aka Cleo aka Deo, is accused of biting a Garda.
Where
The owner, Kevin O'Keefe, was arrested at his home, which he has an address for at Oliver Bond Flats in Dublin 2.
When
The owner was arrested by gardaí last January, according to an article dated 11 August 2023.
Cause
The bite occurred during the arrest on a bench warrant from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Investigation
  • A Garda made a complaint under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 to the District Court a few days after the alleged attack.
  • A kennel report described the dog as extremely aggressive, and a vet's report found it unpredictable and a dangerous dog.
Charges
No charge against the owner is reported in the articles.
In court
  • A District Court judge granted an order directing that the dog be destroyed.
  • The owner's lawyers brought High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, arguing fair procedures were not followed and that he did not receive the required seven days' notice.
  • A stay was placed on the destruction order pending the outcome of the High Court challenge.
  • The Commissioner does not intend to defend the procedural unfairness of the District Court's destruction order, and the Commissioner argued the dog should stay in professional care for public safety.
  • High Court judge Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled that the dog must remain in the custody of a professional kennel operator until the euthanasia application is determined, saying this was in the public interest.
  • Both sides broadly agree the case should go back to the District Court for fresh consideration.
Other details
  • The owner disputes the allegation made against the dog, and his cousin was proposed as a carer for the dog on release.
  • The owner is serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence in Mountjoy Prison for a separate matter.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe dog is a black Belgian Shepherd accused of biting a Garda while its owner was being arrested. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe owner was arrested at his home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe owner was arrested by gardaí at his home last January. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA Garda made a complaint under the Control of Dogs Act 1986 to the District Court a few days after the alleged attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe High Court ruled that the dog must stay in the custody of a professional kennel operator until the euthanasia application is determined. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said it was in the public interest that the dog remain incarcerated pending the rehearing. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDuring the arrest on a bench warrant from Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a Garda was attacked and bitten by the dog. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA District Court judge granted an order directing that the dog be destroyed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe owner's lawyers brought High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, arguing that fair procedures were not followed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe owner's lawyers said he did not receive the required seven days' notice of the destruction order application. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA stay was placed on the destruction order pending the outcome of the High Court challenge. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Commissioner does not intend to defend the procedural unfairness of the District Court's destruction order. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtBoth sides broadly agree the case should go back to the District Court for fresh consideration. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Commissioner argued that the dog should stay in professional care in the interest of public safety. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe dog's owner is Kevin O'Keefe, who has an address at Oliver Bond Flats in Dublin 2 and is serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence in Mountjoy Prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe dog, known as Theo aka Cleo aka Deo, was seized and placed in professionally run kennels. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe owner disputes the allegation made against the dog. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe applicant asked the court to release the dog into the care of his cousin. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA kennel report described the dog as showing extremely aggressive behaviour. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA vet's report found the dog unpredictable and a dangerous dog. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Aug2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Belgian Shepherd dog accused of biting garda during arrest must stay in kennel custody

    Reports a High Court ruling on where the dog should be kept pending rehearing of the destruction order, after the District Court's earlier order was stayed. The article gives no exact date for the bite and no charge against the owner.

    victim