A reckless couple are facing jail after they stood back and did nothing as their ‘devil dog ‘ tore off an elderly woman’s face.
Patrick Maher and Leeanne McHugh watched as their Japanese Akita ‘fighting dog’ locked his jaws around terrified Sylvia Ballie.
Her wounds were so extensive medics were “unable to say” how many stitches were used in rebuilding her cheek and mouth.
The Daily Record reports how the horrific attack took place in Paisley in Scotland on July 13 last year.
A court was told yesterday how the two-year-old beast had also attacked another woman, Jane Darroch, just two weeks before – when it sank its teeth into her wrist, leaving her wound “open to the bone.”
Maher and McHugh, of George Street, in Paisley, pleaded guilty to offences under the Dangerous Dog Act.
Despite their reputation, Japanese Akitas – which were famously used in bear hunting – are not specifically covered by dangerous dog legislation in the UK.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard how Miss Baillie, 60, has been left permanently disfigured despite the best efforts of medics at the Royal Alexandria Hospital where she was operated on.
Fiscal depute Alan Parfrey told the court: “Both the accused were in the company of three other adults at the address.
“All had attended a funeral earlier that day and had been drinking alcohol.
“The 60-year-old lady made to leave the property and in the course of bidding goodbye to the company, she went to say goodbye to the dog and to give it a kiss.
“At that point the dog bit her on the face. The dog’s jaws locked, for what’s described as a few seconds, before her daughter grabbed the dog and pulled it away.
“Neither of the accused did anything at that point in time. Both were in the room. The accused did nothing.”
The prosecutor added in the aftermath of the attack, Maher removed the dog from the house at Fairway Avenue, while McHugh stayed with Miss Baillie, and attempted to give some treatment for her injuries.
The victim was left with a gaping wound on the left side of her face.
Panicking guests had been attempting to stem the flow of blood with tissue paper.
But when the ambulance arrived, paramedics had to apply to pressure pads to the distressed woman’s cheek and mouth, before taking her by ambulance to the RAH.
The fiscal added: “Even after treatment at the hospital, the injuries show that she has been permanently disfigured.
“And the dog was able to make off after the attack. Police were unable to trace the dog at the time.
“The victim was taken to hospital and the attending doctors were unable to say how many stitches were used, because stitches were used both externally on her face as well as internally in her mouth.
“So many stitches were inserted that doctors couldn’t say.”
The court heard the dog was owned by McHugh, but that Maher had been responsible for watching it, when it attacked Miss Darroch at Stanely Cottages, Gleniffer, in Paisley.
Mr Parfrey said: “The accused had tied the dog up outside the property. It was on an extendable leash.
“The complainer went outside and was having a conversation about the accused heading home for dinner, when she was bitten on the right wrist.
“The Akita appeared to have come from behind her. It was without any provocation.
“She described the pain as unbearable. The dog did not even bark.
“Prior to biting her on the wrist, the complainer had not interacted with the dog.”
The victim’s bite wound had left her with a gash “where she was able to see the bone” in her arm, prosecutor said.
The court heard Maher asked Miss Darroch, whom he called Auntie: “Has the dog ripped your jacket Auntie Jane?”
She replied: “It has ripped my arm.”
Medics at the RAH inserted 12 stitches in the wound and she has been left scarred by the attack.
Yesterday Maher pleaded guilty to charges of being responsible for the animal when it was dangerously out of control and bit Jane Darroch.
While his partner Leeanne McHugh pleaded guilty to charges of being owner of the dog when it was dangerously out of control when it attacked Sylvia Baillie.
Sheriff David Pender said he was continuing bail on the accused until he considers background reports.
He said: “I will adjourn proceedings in the respect of these matters for the preparation of Criminal Justice Social Work Reports.”
The dog remains kennelled at the taxpayer’s expense until the outcome of the proceedings.
Both accused will learn of their fate when they return to court next month for sentence.
Mirror.co.uk
