Thursday 29 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. 9708Alleged assault and domestic abuse (family law protection order hearing) · Co. Kildare

Woman alleges husband encouraged XL Bully to bite her, Naas court hears

A woman in Kildare alleges that her husband encouraged an XL Bully dog to bite her in the face, causing a facial injury, and that he used the dog to intimidate and attack her. No date for the incident was given. She made these claims at a family law hearing in Naas District Court, which the Kildare Now reported on 6 May 2026, and the husband was not present or represented. The judge granted her an interim protection order and adjourned the matter to November 23 for a fuller hearing, and the allegations have not been tested.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A woman says she sustained a facial injury after being bitten in the face by an XL Bully dog.
  • The woman alleges her husband encouraged the dog to attack her and used it to intimidate her.
  • The woman alleges her husband destroyed the home, with the dog involved, and turned off the electricity and water.
  • The woman alleges that when she approached her husband, he would call the dog.
  • The woman alleges her husband once accelerated towards her and her mother at a zebra crossing.
Where
The claims were made at Naas District Court in County Kildare.
When
The woman says she was forced from the family home more than a year before the hearing.
Cause
The woman attributes her leaving the family home to financial and domestic abuse.
Weapon
The dog is an XL Bully, which the woman said weighs 10½ stone.
Investigation
The woman reported the matter to gardaí, who referred her to the dog warden.
In court
  • The hearing was a family law hearing, and the husband was not present or represented.
  • Judge Desmond Zaidan granted the woman an interim protection order.
  • The matter was adjourned to November 23 for a fuller hearing.
Other details
The judge expressed concern that the dog had already bitten, and told a garda inspector that gardaí should address the complaint and described the dog warden service as toothless.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman sustained a facial injury after being bitten in the face by an XL Bully dog. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe woman alleged the husband used the dog to intimidate and attack her. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe woman said the husband was not present or represented at the hearing. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe woman alleged the husband destroyed the home and the dog was involved. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe woman alleged the husband turned off the electricity and water in the home. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe woman alleged that when she approached the husband, he would call the dog. (kildarenow.com)
  • whatThe woman alleged the husband once accelerated towards her and her mother at a zebra crossing. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe woman reported the matter to gardaí, who referred her to the dog warden. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe woman claimed at Naas District Court that her husband had encouraged the dog to attack her. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe hearing was a family law hearing. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtJudge Desmond Zaidan granted the woman an interim protection order. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned for a fuller hearing to November 23. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe woman said she had been forced from the family home over a year before the hearing due to financial and domestic abuse. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe woman now lives with an elderly relative. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe woman said the dog weighs 10½ stone. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe judge told a garda inspector that gardaí should address the complaint and described the dog warden service as toothless. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe judge expressed concern that the dog had already bitten. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 May2026
    In courtkildarenow.com, first report
    Woman bitten in face after husband encouraged XL Bully dog to bite her, Kildare court claim

    Reports a family law hearing at Naas District Court in which the woman made allegations against her husband. An interim protection order was granted and the matter was adjourned to November 23. The allegations were made in court and are not tested.

    victim, femalesuspect, male