A Belfast dog owner has been fined and ordered to pay compensation after his escaped dog attacked and injured a five-year-old boy in the street.
Lucas Bjorkman-Loney, of Broomhill Park, Belfast, was sentenced at Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday 2 June 2026 after being convicted of an offence involving a dog attacking a person.
Belfast City Council brought the prosecution after reports that Mr Bjorkman-Loney’s Pointer type dog had escaped from premises at Broomhill Park and attacked the child on 27 June 2025. The boy suffered injuries to his leg.
The case is a reminder for dog owners across Belfast that keeping a dog secure is not only a matter of neighbourly responsibility. When a dog escapes and injures someone, the owner can face prosecution, financial penalties and compensation orders.
Dog escaped from Broomhill Park premises
The attack happened in the street after the dog got out from premises at Broomhill Park in Belfast. According to the council, the dog was a Pointer type dog and the injured child was five years old.
No further medical details were provided in the council statement beyond the report that the boy sustained injuries to his leg. The council did not state whether the child required hospital treatment or whether any control order was made in relation to the dog.
For families living on residential streets, the key issue in cases like this is containment. A dog does not have to be deliberately set loose for an owner to face consequences. If a gate, door, garden boundary or other access point fails and a dog escapes, the owner may still be held responsible for what happens next.
The incident took place on 27 June 2025, and the sentencing followed almost a year later at Belfast Magistrates Court.
Fine, compensation and court costs
Mr Bjorkman-Loney was convicted under Article 29(2) of The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983.
He received a fine of £750. He was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation and a further £132 in legal and court costs.
The total financial penalty and payments listed by Belfast City Council amount to £1,382. The compensation order was directed at the harm caused by the attack, while the fine and costs reflect the court outcome after the prosecution.
The sentencing was confirmed by Belfast City Council on 3 June 2026, the day after the hearing. The prosecution was taken by the council following the reported attack and injury to the child.
Dog control duties in Northern Ireland
The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 sets out legal responsibilities around dogs, including offences linked to attacks on people. Article 29(2), cited in this case, is used where a dog attacks a person.
In practical terms, dog owners should treat escape prevention as part of basic care. Secure fencing, working gates, closed doors, suitable leads and supervision around entrances all reduce the risk of a dog entering a public area unexpectedly.
This is especially relevant in streets where children walk, play or pass close to driveways and front gardens. Even a short escape can create a risk before an owner has time to react.
The Belfast case also shows that prosecutions can follow after a reported incident, even where the attack happens close to the owner’s own premises. The location of the escape does not remove the duty to keep a dog under control.
Safety message for Belfast residents
Residents who witness a dog attack or are injured by a dog should seek medical help where needed and report the incident to the appropriate authorities. Clear details such as the location, time, description of the dog and any known owner information can assist follow-up action.
Dog owners should check the parts of a property where an animal could get out, including side gates, rear access points, garden fencing and front doors used by visitors or delivery drivers.
In this case, Belfast City Council said the Pointer type dog escaped from premises at Broomhill Park before attacking the five-year-old boy in the street. Mr Bjorkman-Loney was fined £750 and ordered to pay £500 compensation plus £132 in legal and court costs.
Source: Belfast City Council
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This report is based on Belfast City Council's published notice about the sentencing at Belfast Magistrates Court.
- Confirmed the sentencing date as Tuesday 2 June 2026 and the council publication date as 3...
- Matched the named court, defendant, location and offence details to the council notice.
- Separated confirmed facts from practical safety context for local dog owners.
- Did not add medical details, dog-control orders or police involvement not stated in the so...
- Source
- Belfast City Council
- Scope
- Belfast
- Updated
- 2026-06-03 18:44
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