CORONER Andre Rebello is to send the Crown Prosecution Service a full inquest report after a jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing on dog-attack victim David Kearney.

Mr Rebello said a stenographer's recorded report would be forwarded to the CPS, which had earlier decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a criminal prosecution against the owner of three rottweilers which savaged the 11-year-old boy.

At the ends of a two-day hearing at Blackburn Town Hall, David's mother Margaret Kearney, of Meadow Gate, Darwen, said she was relieved the jury decided her son had been unlawfully killed,

David had been playing with friends two days before Christmas last year, when he was savagely mauled by three rottweiler dogs after he climbed into the back yard of Kevin Tierney's home in Redearth Road, Darwen.

Two of the dogs were destroyed at his request following the attack.

After the hearing Mrs Kearney said: "These animals went for my David like he was dog meat.

"I am his mum and I have to try and live with what I have heard in that courtroom over two days.

"It is going to take me a long time before I can stop grieving." The Kearney's family solicitor, John Dewhurst, said he hoped valuable lessons could be learned from the case and that people who kept large dogs such as rottweilers would put them through proper training.

Mrs Kearney is considering civil action against Mr Tierney.

During the hearing Mrs Kearney said her son was never able to speak to her as he fought for survival in Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester.

But she added: "He knew we were there. He was holding on to his father's thumb."

After Mrs Kearney had given evidence the dog owner told her: "I have never been able to apologise to you. I have wanted to all along and I am so very, very sorry for what happened." Throughout the inquest Mr Tierney was upset and told how he was still seeking medical help after seeing the battered and naked body of David when he had been savaged.

Harry Carter, a canine specialist from West Sussex, told the inquest that Mr Tierney's dogs, which were often left unsupervised in the yard, had acted initially in a dominant and then a predatory manner, with intent to kill as they attacked David.

He said the leader of the pack was undoubtedly the oldest bitch, Sam.

Earlier Mr Tierney had told the court two other dogs, George and Jet, had been destroyed but he still owned Sam and a dog Bob, which had not been involved in the attack.

Mr Carter added that rottweilers could be ideal family pets if properly trained and socialised but he did not believe that Mr Tierney's dogs had been socialised and may not have reacted in such a way if they had.

Mr Rebello, coroner for Blackburn, Darwen and the Ribble Valley, said: "I cannot imagine a more horrific death than that suffered by David."

He offered his condolences to the Kearney family and said he hoped that lessons would be learned from this case.

Mr Tierney refused to talk to reporters after the case.

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