#DolphinAttack - A woman who suffered serious injuries after being struck by the snout of Doolin's dolphin resident Dusty has criticised the lack of warning signs in the harbour at the time.
As RTÉ News reports via the Irish Independent, Valerie Ryan is calling for a total swimming ban in the area after suffering eight spinal fractures, two broken ribs and lung damage in the incident on 28 July last.
The self-employed osteopath has been forced out of work for six months due to her injuries.
Hers was the fourth such altercation with Dusty, a 14-year-old female bottlenose dolphin, recorded at that point this summer.
It has since emerged that the dolphin may have been acting aggressively in reaction to mistreatment by certain members of the public on various occasions.
Warning signs have since been erected in the area by Clare County Council, in line with advice from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group that no one should swim with any of the whales or dolphins that frequent Ireland's waters - activity that puts both humans and cetaceans at risk.
"This dolphin is a wild animal and people should take serious account of that," said Liam Griffin, water safety officer with Clare County Council.
