Woman dies after attack by cattle

A woman was killed near Athlone, Co Westmeath, when she was attacked by cattle.

It is understood she was walking with a dog in a field close to her home at Ballinahown, near Athlone, when the cattle appear to have charged at her.

It is believed they were provoked by her dog. She was seriously injured and discovered some time later when an ambulance was sent for. It took her to the nearest hospital at Portiuncula in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, where she died on Friday evening.

Athlone gardaí have begun an investigation into the woman's death, which has caused deep shock locally.

Speaking to The Irish Times last night one local woman, who did not wish to be named, said she had heard about the death on Saturday morning and that it had been confirmed yesterday.

She thought it "a terrible tragedy" and "highly unusual" in that cattle were not known to do such things generally.

The dead woman would have been used to being out and about among cattle in the fields. It was her opinion the cattle must have been provoked by the dog, the local woman said.