A man has been convicted of a dog attack in Belfast in which a three-year-old boy was injured.

Mark McLaughlin, of Prospect Park, was sentenced at Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday for an incident on March 29 this year.

His collie-husky cross dog attacked the young man, who suffered injuries to his face and forehead.

Belfast City Council brought the prosecution in the interests of public safety and in accordance with The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order.

Mr McLaughlin pleaded guilty to the offense and received a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £500 compensation in addition to £139 in court and court costs.

Meanwhile, in a separate prosecution brought by the council under the same legislation, Eileen Irvine, of Westrock Grove in Belfast, was convicted following an incident on March 24.

Her Bulldog and Lurcher dog attacked and injured a Jack Russell dog in the O’Neills Lane area of ​​the town.

Mrs Irvine pleaded guilty and was fined £250 for the assault and a further £90 fine for not having a license for her dogs. She was ordered to pay compensation of £500, along with costs of £89.

Meanwhile, north Belfast police tasered two dogs after a woman was bitten on the leg in the Upper Canning Street area of ​​Belfast on Monday afternoon.

Officers had received a report of aggressive dogs in the area shortly before 5pm and when they arrived they found the two dogs fighting.

Officers considered the dogs to be a danger to the public and used a taser to “prevent further attacks”, a PSNI spokesman said, adding that the Police Ombudsman had been informed and inquiries were continuing on behalf of the Council’s dog warden of the city of Belfast.

A council spokesman said its dog wardens attended the scene.

“We are continuing to investigate this incident and cannot comment further while our investigation is ongoing,” they added.