Gardaí in Salthill are investigating the death of a woman who was reportedly attacked by dogs on Sunday afternoon.
It is understood two dogs attacked the woman at a house in Moycullen in Galway yesterday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the scene just after 3pm yesterday.
The woman – aged in her 60s – was pronounced dead at the scene and her body has since been removed to University Hospital Galway.
A post-mortem is due to be carried out this evening.
The two bull mastiff dogs involved in the attack have reportedly been put down.
The tragic incident has led to calls for changes to legislation governing dog handling and ownership – as current laws only govern dogs while they are in public places.
Spokesperson for the Dublin Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), Gillian Bird said the breed is on the restricted list in Ireland:
“We have no banned breeds in this country,” she said.
“Restricted basically means that they have to be on a lead at all times, walked by somebody over the age of 16 who is capable of controlling the animals.
“So there are no restrictions of these dogs when you have them on your private property.
“You can have them running around your back garden.”
Gardaí are treating the death as a tragic accident.