DOG-ATTACK victim David Kearney's mother has spoken of her grief for the first time since her son's death.

David, 11, was savaged by two rottweiler dogs two days before Christmas and died after an 11-day fight for life. His funeral was on Wedneday

Now Margaret Kearney, of Broad Gate, Darwen, has spoken of the pain of losing her son. She said: "At the moment I can't go up the stairs. I can't go up there because David's room is there.

"I haven't been able to cook anything yet because I know I will forget he isn't here and set a place for David."

She added: "We have had cards and messages of support from all over the place. I would really like to thank the people of Darwen for what they have done for me." She said the staff at Booth Hall Children's Hospital in Manchester had been very supportive during David's battle to stay alive. Mrs Kearney stressed that the family dogs, Sheba, a whippet cross, and Sparky, an alsatian cross-breed, would not be destroyed although a new home was being sought for Sparky.

She said: "David loved Sheba. She was his favourite. He wouldn't have wanted anything to happen to the dogs.

"I have a lot of anger inside me still, but I don't want to take it out on anyone else. That wouldn't bring David back.

"But we do think there should be more control on dangerous dogs and they should be muzzled."

Mrs Kearney said part of David's headstone, which will be paid for by donations, would include a figure of a dog.

Rival teams from the Ellenshaw and Railway pubs in Darwen will have a friendly tug of war to raise cash on Sunday.

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