It was supposed to be a night of celebration. Nicole Lisa Marie Morey had just turned 23. She’d spent the evening out, marking the milestone like any other young woman in Limerick would. But when she walked through her front door in Ballyneety on that Tuesday night in June 2024, things took a turn that nobody—least of all Nicole—could have seen coming.
The story of what happened next didn't just stay in that house. It exploded across the news, sparking a national debate that eventually changed the very fabric of Irish law. If you’ve been following the headlines about the XL Bully ban in Ireland, Nicole is the name at the heart of it all.
The Night Everything Changed in Ballyneety
On June 4, 2024, emergency services were called to a property in Fedamore, a quiet village in County Limerick. It was late—around 11:40 PM. When the Gardaí arrived, they weren't just met with a medical emergency; they were met with a scene of absolute chaos.
Nicole had been attacked by her own dogs.
The details are tough to stomach. The Regional Armed Support Unit had to be called in because the dogs on the property were so aggressive that paramedics couldn't even get to her. Think about that for a second. Even with all their training, the first responders had to wait for armed backup just to reach a person who was dying. By the time they got to her, it was too late. Nicole died right there on her 23rd birthday.
One of the dogs, later identified as an XL Bully, was shot dead by the Gardaí at the scene. Three other dogs were seized. It was a brutal, sudden end for a woman who, by all accounts, absolutely adored her pets.
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The "Dog Mom" and the Social Media Trail
Honestly, the most haunting part of this whole thing is what Nicole left behind online. If you look at her TikTok or Facebook, she wasn't some neglectful owner. She called herself a "dog mom."
There’s a video of her dancing in her kitchen with one of the dogs to a song with lyrics about not caring if people think the breed looks aggressive. She was a defender of these dogs. She loved them. In another post, she shared a photo with the caption, "But if one of us dies—I hope I die first."
It’s the kind of irony that makes your stomach sink.
People often want to paint these stories in black and white. They want to say the owner was "bad" or the dog was "abused." But the reality with Nicole Lisa Marie Morey seems much more complicated. She appeared to be a responsible, loving owner who simply couldn't control the power of the animals she kept when something, for whatever reason, went wrong.
Why the XL Bully?
So, why this specific breed? The XL Bully isn't actually a "breed" in the traditional sense like a Golden Retriever. It’s a variant of the American Bully, bred for size and muscle. In Ireland, before this incident, these dogs were on a "restricted" list, meaning they had to be muzzled and on a short lead in public. But inside your own home? The law didn't have much to say.
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The problem, as experts like James Madden have pointed out, isn't just "aggression"—it’s the sheer physics of the animal. These dogs can weigh more than the people owning them. They have a bite force that makes it nearly impossible for an average person to intervene once an attack starts.
From Tragedy to Legislation: The 2024 Ban
The backlash after Nicole's death was near-instant. For years, there had been whispers and small-scale protests about dog control in Ireland, especially after a nine-year-old boy, Alejandro Mizsan, was badly injured in Wexford. But Nicole’s death was the tipping point.
Minister Heather Humphreys didn't wait long. By July 2024, she announced a phased ban on XL Bully dogs in Ireland.
- October 1, 2024: It became illegal to import, breed, sell, or rehome an XL Bully.
- February 1, 2025: A full ban on ownership kicked in, unless you had a "Certificate of Exemption."
To get that certificate, owners had to jump through hoops: microchipping, licensing, and neutering. If you didn't have that piece of paper by the deadline, the law was clear—the dog could be seized and euthanized.
It wasn't a popular move with everyone. Animal welfare groups actually took the state to the High Court over it. They argued that the rules were too broad and that "you can't bring a dead dog back to life" if a warden misidentifies the breed. Eventually, a settlement was reached to add more "procedural safeguards," but the core of the ban remained.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Case
There’s a lot of noise online whenever Nicole Morey is mentioned. Some people blame her; others blame the "nature" of the dogs. But if you look at the facts, there are a few things that get lost in the shuffle:
- She wasn't a novice. This wasn't someone who just bought a dog on a whim. She lived with these animals daily.
- The "other" dog. While the XL Bully got the headlines, reports suggested a second dog—possibly a Staffordshire Terrier mix—may have been involved in the attack.
- The warning signs. Nicole had actually posted on social media about struggling to control one of the dogs previously. It shows that even with love and treats, the sheer power of the animal was a looming issue.
Real-World Takeaways for Dog Owners
If there is anything to learn from the tragedy of Nicole Lisa Marie Morey, it’s that "it won't happen to me" is a dangerous mindset. Whether you agree with the ban or not, the landscape of dog ownership in Ireland has fundamentally shifted.
If you own a restricted breed or a large, powerful dog, there are practical steps you should be taking right now. Honestly, it’s not just about following the law; it’s about safety.
- Invest in professional training. Not just "sit" and "stay," but high-level recall and "stop" commands.
- Physical containment is key. If you have a large dog, ensure your fencing isn't just "good," but "industrial-grade."
- Be honest about your strength. If you cannot physically pull your dog off an object or another animal, you are at a disadvantage the moment their instinct kicks in.
- Understand the "Exemption" rules. If you’re in Ireland and own an XL Bully, check your paperwork. The 2025 deadline has passed, and the Gardaí are much more active in checking licenses than they used to be.
The loss of Nicole Morey was a horrific freak accident, but it was also a catalyst. It forced a whole country to look at the reality of high-power breeds and ask where the line between "pet" and "predator" actually sits.
For the Morey family, the "shattered" hearts her sister spoke of won't ever fully heal. But for the rest of the country, her name serves as a permanent reminder of why those new muzzling and ownership laws exist in the first place.
If you are currently navigating the new regulations in Ireland, your first step should be contacting your local authority's dog warden. They can provide the specific requirements for the Certificate of Exemption and ensure your property meets the necessary safety standards to keep both you and your pet on the right side of the law.