Mother Criticises 'Frustrating' Court Outcome Following Severe Playpark Dog Attack
A mother has expressed profound disappointment with the justice system after her young daughter suffered a severe dog attack at a Welsh playpark, leaving the child with injuries requiring multiple surgical procedures. The incident occurred at Beibio playing park in Holyhead on August 24, 2025, when the eight-year-old girl was playing hide and seek with friends.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing Details
On Monday, January 18, 2026, Bethan Farr, 51, of Peibio Close, Holyhead, appeared before Caernarfon Magistrates Court. Farr pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog that was dangerously out of control and caused injury. The court handed down a 12-month sentence, suspended for 12 months, alongside additional requirements.
The defendant was ordered to pay £500 in compensation and must complete rehabilitation activity requirements. Furthermore, the dog involved in the attack, described by the mother as a "pocket bully," was ordered to be destroyed.
Graphic Details of the Traumatic Incident
The mother, who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions protecting her daughter's identity, recounted the harrowing events. Her daughter was playing in the park when a dog approached. The child, who was not afraid of dogs, began stroking the animal. However, when the "seeker" in their game arrived, the children ran away, prompting the dog to chase the young girl.
"The dog clamped onto a hoodie she had tied around her waist or shoulders," the mother explained. "She let go of the hoodie, but then it grabbed her ankle. The dog was ragging her around the field for maybe six minutes." The entire attack was captured on CCTV footage.
Severe Injuries and Hospital Treatment
After a friend managed to free the girl from the dog's grip, she was carried to a neighbouring house. Her parents were called and witnessed the shocking severity of her leg wounds before rushing her to Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley in Holyhead. She was subsequently transferred to the A&E department at Ysbyty Gwynedd Bangor for urgent medical care, where police officers also attended.
The young girl remained in hospital for several days, undergoing two surgical procedures. Medical staff worked to cleanse the deep wound, which contained mud, and properly seal it for healing. During this period, she required powerful pain relief medication.
Recovery and Lasting Psychological Impact
While the girl has made a good physical recovery, she now bears a scar on her leg that the family has renamed her "shark bite" war wound. "We have told her 'you should be proud of what you have come through and dealt with'," the mother said.
Psychologically, the experience has left her more cautious around dogs. She received dog therapy at Ysbyty Gwynedd to help rebuild her comfort with animals. "She is very strong and is very strong willed," her mother noted, highlighting her daughter's resilience.
Mother's Criticism of the Justice System
The mother condemned the court's sentence as "totally frustrating" and expressed feeling "let down by the courts." She believes the justice system has failed her daughter, stating: "I think they are letting her down."
In an attempt to shield her daughter from disappointment, the family presented the sentence as more severe than it actually was. "I didn't want her to think that she got nothing," the mother explained, underscoring her concern about the message the court's decision sends regarding accountability for such serious incidents.
