THE mother of David Kearney - who was fatally savaged by rottweilers - is considering taking civil action against the dogs' owner after a jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

And coroner Andre Rebello has sent a report of the two-day inquest to the Crown Prosection Service, who may decide to take criminal action against Kevin Tierney.

Blackburn Town Hall heard how Margaret Kearney never got the chance to speak to her son again after the attack on December 23. David had climbed into the back yard of Mr Tierney's home in Redearth Road, Darwen, while playing hide and seek with friends.

David, 11, who had his left leg amputated after the attack, lost his brave fight for life at Manchester's Booth Hall Children's hospital on January 3 - when doctors turned off his life-support machine.

The jury of six men and five women concluded that David had died from multiple organ failure due to multiple injuries. Two of the owners' four dogs were destroyed after the incident at his request.

Mrs Kearney of Meadow Gate, Darwen, told the inquest: "I never got the chance to speak to him but he knew we were there with him."

After giving evidence, she broke down in tears when Mr Tierney said: "I have never been able to apologise to you. I have wanted to all along and I am so very, very sorry for what happened."

Bill Cottingham, head of the RSPCA for the North West, told the court he believed the dogs were not kept in suitable conditions while canine specialist Harry Carter, from West Sussex, added that the dogs had first acted in a dominant and then a predatory manner with intent to kill David when he entered the yard.

After the jury's verdict, family solicitor John Dewhurst said on behalf of Mrs Kearney: "We would like to thank the coroner and the jury in particular who were very brave to reach the decision they did.

"We hope valuable lessons will be learnt from this tragic incident and people must realise that large dogs cannot be left unattended for hours on end, and indeed should not be able to roam around in accessible areas.

"We are now hoping owners will view training with more importance following this case."

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