Circus worker injured in elephant attack

A man is critically ill in hospital after he was attacked by an elephant at a circus in a Co Waterford town.

Paul Dineen (34) was seriously injured when he entered the animal's enclosure on Sunday afternoon in Tramore, where Circus New York opened last weekend.

Originally from Kerry, Mr Dineen had been working with the circus for 10 years but was not the elephant's trainer.

The 26-year-old African elephant gored him with a tusk, causing a large cut in his side.

Gardaí arrived at the scene and were shortly followed by an Order Of Malta ambulance.

Mr Dineen was taken to Waterford Regional Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and was described as critical but stable. He is being treated in the intensive care unit.

Gardaí and inspectors for the Health and Safety Authority, are investigating the incident.

The circus, previously known as Courtney's, is based in The Heath, Portlaoise but was on tour when it arrived in Tramore on Friday last.

Publicity manager Martin Middleton yesterday said Mr Dineen should not have been in the elephant's enclosure at the time of the attack.

He said the elephant, one of three travelling with the company, poses no threat to the public and will continue to perform with the circus.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) sympathised with the victim but expressed concern for the welfare of the elephants.

Criticising the circus industry for housing wild animals, Mark Beazley said: "It is horrendously unfortunate that this happened and our sympathies go to the man but we are completely against this."

The ISPCA's policy has always been one of opposition to the "exhibition of animals in circuses or other travelling menageries", he said.