Belfast dog owner fined after child injured: what residents need to know

A Belfast man has been fined and ordered to pay compensation after his dog escaped from a property and injured a five-year-old boy in the street.

Belfast City Council said Lucas Bjorkman-Loney, of Broomhill Park, Belfast, was sentenced at Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, after being convicted over the incident.

The case followed reports that Mr Bjorkman-Loney’s Pointer-type dog had attacked and injured the child on 27 June 2025. The boy sustained injuries to his leg after the dog escaped from premises at Broomhill Park.

For residents, the case is a reminder that dog control is not only a private responsibility inside the home or garden. Where a dog gets loose and injures someone in a public place, the owner can face prosecution, financial penalties and compensation orders.

Dog escaped from Broomhill Park premises

According to the council, the attack happened in the street after the dog escaped from premises at Broomhill Park in Belfast.

The injured child was five years old. The council statement said the dog caused injuries to the boy’s leg, but did not give further medical details.

Belfast City Council brought the prosecution after reports of the attack. The source account identifies the animal as a Pointer-type dog and states that the case was linked to an offence involving a dog attacking a person.

Escaped dogs can create particular risks in residential streets because children, pedestrians and other dog walkers may have little time to react. In a built-up area, even a short lapse in control can move quickly from a household issue to a public safety incident.

Owners in Belfast are expected to keep dogs under effective control and to prevent them from roaming. That means checking gates, fences, doors and garden boundaries, especially where a dog has a known tendency to run out, react to movement or become difficult to recall.

Sentence at Belfast Magistrates Court

Mr Bjorkman-Loney was convicted of an offence under Article 29(2) of The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983.

Following the conviction, Belfast Magistrates Court imposed a fine of £750. He was also ordered to pay a compensation order totalling £500, along with £132 in legal and court costs.

The total financial penalty and payments listed by the council amount to £1,382.

The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 is the legal framework cited in the case. Article 29(2), as referenced by the council, relates to an offence where a dog attacks a person.

The court outcome shows how dog-control cases can move beyond warnings or informal complaints where an injury has occurred. A prosecution can follow when authorities receive evidence that a dog has attacked a person and the matter meets the legal threshold for action.

What the case means for local dog control

The immediate court case concerns one owner, one dog and one child injured in Belfast. The wider public safety point is more practical: dog owners need to treat escape prevention as part of everyday control.

For households, that includes securing outdoor areas, closing doors and gates before letting a dog move freely, and using a lead where there is any risk the dog may bolt into the street. Visitors, delivery drivers and children entering or leaving a property can all create moments when a dog may get out unexpectedly.

For parents and residents, the case also underlines why loose dogs should be reported when they present a risk. Local authorities rely on reports and evidence to investigate incidents, take enforcement action and decide whether prosecution is appropriate.

Not every loose dog incident ends in injury, and not every complaint leads to court. But where a child is hurt, the consequences for the owner can include a criminal conviction, a fine, compensation and costs.

Council prosecution after a child was injured

Belfast City Council confirmed it took the prosecution against Mr Bjorkman-Loney following the reported attack.

The council’s account sets out the key dates: the incident happened on 27 June 2025, the sentencing took place on 2 June 2026, and the council published the outcome on 3 June 2026.

The source statement does not say whether any separate order was made in relation to the dog. It also does not give further details about the child’s recovery.

The confirmed court outcome is that Lucas Bjorkman-Loney, of Broomhill Park, Belfast, was convicted under The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 and ordered to pay a £750 fine, £500 compensation and £132 legal and court costs.

Source: Belfast City Council

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Source check Source trail

This report is based on Belfast City Council's published account of the prosecution and sentencing.

Checks

• Matched the sentencing date to Tuesday, 2 June 2026, as stated by the council.
• Checked the named court, Belfast Magistrates Court, against the council notice.
• Kept the legal reference to Article 29(2) of The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 as cit...
• Separated confirmed court penalties from wider dog-control safety context.

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Belfast City Council

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Belfast

Updated

2026-06-04 21:19

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Article contextPeople & topics1#7

Lucas Bjorkman-Loney

#Belfast City Council#Belfast Magistrates Court#Broomhill Park#child safety#dog attack#escaped dog#The Dogs Northern Ireland Order 1983

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