Eight-year-old 'traumatised' by Swan Park incident

An eight-year-old boy was left 'traumatised' after being knocked off his bike by a loose dog at Swan Park in Buncrana over the Easter weekend.

Buncrana-based Sinn Féin Councillor Jack Murray has appealed to the public to take responsibility for their dogs while using the popular amenity.

Councillor Murray has issued a plea for dog walkers to keep their dogs on a lead and to pick up dog fouling, which remains problematic in the area.

At the weekend, a family were in Swan Park when a young child was toppled off his bike by a dog.

“The child and his family were quite traumatised by it,” Councillor Murray said.

“They were shook by the incident. This is obviously a very scary thing to happen to any kid.”

Swan Park was reopened in the summer of 2022 having been damaged by flood in 2017.

Councillor Murray said: “It is a very popular destination. People come to Buncrana especially for it. Swan Park is, I think, the pride of Donegal County Council's work in the area. If people can take responsibility for their dogs while they are there it can continue to be a place of great enjoyment long into the future.”

Councillor Murray has pledged to work closely with the local authority in an attempt to get new signage to remind people of their responsibilities.

If necessary, he says he will seek for an amendment of the Donegal Council bye-laws.

He said: “This will need to be addressed by the council going forward but in the meantime, I'd ask anyone who is walking their dog in the park, to keep it on a lead and pick up your dog foul afterwards.”