A pitbull terrier was shot dead by Gardaí after attacking residents in Cork yesterday. 

The attack happened in Ballyphehane around 5.20pm yesterday evening. 

A man and woman were taken to Cork University Hospital to be treated for injuries. 

Gardaí said they engaged with the owner of the dog and after failed attempts to sedate the animal, it was shot by the Armed Response Unit. 

Pitbull terriers are a restricted dog breed in Ireland.

This is the second dog to be shot dead by Gardaí this week after attacking someone and the third dog attack in recent weeks.

A nine-year-old boy was left with facial injuries after being bitten by a dog in Limerick on May 29.

Nicole Morey

Nicole Morey (23) was also killed on Tuesday night by a dog, understood to be an XL Bully breed, at a house in Ballyneety, Co Limerick. 

Three dogs were removed from the house and at least one dog was destroyed by Gardaí. 

In a post on social media, her sister said her heart is "shattered" following the tragedy which happened on Ms Morey's birthday. 

The tragedy reopened the debate around restricted dog breeds, with calls to ban specific breeds in Ireland.  

A specialist stakeholder group on dangerous dogs established in March is due to recommend laws on restricted dog breeds, which will be implemented in full. 

Restricted dog breeds

Limerick TD and Higher Education Minister Patrick O’Donovan welcomed the group and said XL Bully dogs need to be treated as dangerous. 

“I think it’s really important to get certainty for people who are considered about this [to know] this is being taken seriously by the Government,” he said. 

“These are a breed of dogs that are desperately dangerous and need to be treated as such. 

“People need to be vigilant and need to be careful... but we also need to be cognizant of the fact there is a Garda investigation underway.” 

Last year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the XL bully would be banned in England and Wales.  

Several months later, the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive said they too would introduce their own restrictions.