Police dog that mauled tragic pensioner was ‘out of control’
THE gran who died after being mauled by a police dog told her son it was “out of control”, an inquest heard yesterday.
Eric Collins found mum Irene, 73, in a pool of blood after being called to her home by police when the dog got into her kitchen and attacked her.
Eric, 51, told the hearing: “She was screaming my name out, being treated by paramedics.”
Irene told relatives that officers carrying out a search in her garden did not know German shepherd Dano had got loose “until they heard her screams”. Eric said: “She kept saying numerous times, ‘The dog was out of control’.” An officer said it had “slipped its lead”. But Eric told the hearing: “I didn’t believe him. This is a professional dog handler.” Irene, from Middlesbrough, died four days later. A jury will consider its verdict at Teesside magistrates court today.