AMY MURPHY, 81, was attacked and killed by a pack of vicious dogs on the compound of the Golden Age Home on St. Joseph's Road, St. Andrew yesterday morning.
Ms Murphy left her room for a walk at approximately 5:45 a.m. but did not get far before being mauled by the dogs. Bloodstains indicated that she was dragged a few feet along the grass. The police say there were about eight dogs in the pack.
Constable Dale Isaacs of the Rollington Town Police Station, who is in charge of the investigation, suggested that the dogs were probably lured on to the compound by food.
"At that time of the morning, breakfast was being prepared, they might also have been accustomed to being fed by the residents," Constable Isaacs said.
The police are now planning to set traps to capture the dogs.
"Having tasted blood, it would be dangerous for those dogs to continue on the loose. They are particularly vicious as they didn't run even when several workers and residents tried to fend them off," Constable Isaacs said.
BELLEVUE PATIENT
Ms. Murphy, a patient at Kingston's psychiatric hospital, Bellevue, was going senile. She was loved at the home.
"She used to brighten my day. She used to tease me and call me 'General' and I would say, 'Yes officer'," Ms. Moncrieffe said while crying.
Director of the home, Lt. Col. Desmond Clarke, said the home's board was scheduled to meet last night to discuss measures to 'dog-proof' the compound.
Ms. Murphy had one daughter.
