A man prosecuted in relation to a dog which attacked a child in an Enniscorthy housing estate last year was brought briefly before Wexford Circuit Court.

It will be illegal to own an XL bully from February 1 2024 unless the animal is on an exempt list, called the Index of Exempted Dogs.

A charity has warned of increased numbers of abandoned bully XL dogs when they are banned next month. The change in the law means the dogs owners have to have dogs neutered,microchipped, and exempted,

American bully XL owners now have to apply for an exemption to keep their dogs before a ban comes into force on 1 February next year. Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher said the legislation was the right thing to do.

Hundreds of XL bully dogs will be destroyed after the ban comes into effect if owners choose not to keep their pet or if they're without a home

The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) fears the rules may lead to a 'postcode lottery' on vets being able to help owners meet the terms.

An animal charity is urgently trying to rehome an XL bully before a ban comes into place. Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary (OAS) in Stadhampton is one of many organisations across the UK trying to find permanent homes for the animals.