There were calls last night for Belfast city council's handling of a dog attack on an eight-year-old child last year to be "looked at".
Deputy Mayor Paul McCusker said he intended to raise the issue of the dog attack on Annie McFadden in May 2019 with "senior officers".
The St Patrick’s Primary School pupil underwent surgery and needed 80 stitches to her head and body after she was attacked by an American Bulldog-type dog in May 2019.
Witnesses saw the dog shook her and pulled her along by the hair in the attack at Girdwood Community Hub.. At one point she fled but the animal shook off a chain put round its neck and attacked her again.
Her family were told that a wound on her chest was just 2cm from piercing her heart.
In the aftermath of the attack concerns were raised in The Irish News about the whereabouts of the animal.
Belfast City Council said the case remained a priority for the dog warden team and that investigations were ongoing.
On Tuesday, Wayne McGrath, of Marsden Gardens in Belfast, was jailed for four months in relation to the attack.
The 47-year-old admitted charges of being the keeper of a dog and causing it unnecessary suffering after he told police he bludgeoned the animal with a hammer and burned the remains.
Questions were raised last night as to why Belfast city council never made the public aware that the dog had been destroyed amid concerns the dangerous animal was still at large.
Mr McCusker said there was a "lack of information provided to the public" and Annie's family.
"How the council has handled this needs to be looked at," he said.
"There should have been a lot more information provided".
Mr McCusker said there were "a lot of people" worried in the community as they thought the dog was "still at large" and a lack of information "was not helpful".
"I will be raising it with senior officers today," he said.
Mr McCusker added: "The council should have reassured the public.
"This young girl has been left traumatised, also, the impact on the community. People were concerned. The council should have said the dog was no longer in public".
When asked about Belfast city council's handling of the incident, a spokesman repeated a statement from May: "This is an ongoing case therefore we are unable to provide further comment".
