LAST UPDATE | 4 Mar 2025

A DOG WAS put down after it was shot and seriously wounded by gardaí after they chased a man suspected of a drugs offence in Limerick City.

The XL Bully, similar to dogs that appear on Ireland’s restricted dog breeding list, was shot and injured as Gardai searched the curtilage of a house where they believed drugs had been discarded by a suspect they had been chasing.

Two dog wardens attached to Limerick City and County Council “assisted” gardaí in removing the injured dog from the scene, a Council spokesman said.

The dog was later euthanised, sources confirmed.

A statement released by gardaí read: “While on patrol in the Hyde Road area of Limerick City, Gardaí attached to the Limerick Divisional Armed Support Unit stopped a suspicious vehicle at approximately 9pm last night.”

“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.”

The man was being held in custody at a Garda Station in Limerick.

The Garda statement added: “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.

“The dog was later taken into custody by the local Dog Warden with the assistance of the Garda Armed Support Unit for safety.”

Gardaí said the matter had been referred to the Garda watchdog, An Garda Síochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).