Granddaughter’s tearful tribute to man killed by his own bully XL | UK | News
A heartbroken seven-year-old girl has paid tribute to her “loving” grandfather who was mauled to death by his own tyrannical dog XL.
Widower David Daintree, 53, died on Tuesday after a banned dog attacked him at his property in Accrington, Lancashire.
Police said they were called by the ambulance service to the Ashley Court address shortly before 9.30pm following reports of the incident.
Sadly, they found David dead at the scene and armed officers were forced to shoot the dog as he posed a “continuing and significant threat”.
David’s granddaughter, known as Squeaky Lou, paid tribute to her grandfather and asked him to give “big hugs and kisses” to his wife, who died earlier.
In a tribute paid by police, she said: “My boy, I will miss you very much. I love you very much but I am glad you are back with your nanny now.
“Please give him big hugs and kisses from me. I love your Squeaky-Lou and your nanny’s.”
David’s daughter Joanne also paid tribute to him, describing him as “the kindest, most loving person” who “would help anyone”.
She said: “Dad was a man who had so much love to give he didn’t know what to do with it. Everyone who met him said what a lovely man he was.”
Joanne continued: “Yes, like many people, he went through some tough times, but he was working hard to get his life back on track. He was struggling because he lost the love of his life in 2021, but he was starting to find his big, loving heart again.
“He was the kindest, most loving person you could ever meet. He helped everyone, including people he didn’t know, and he did it on many occasions.
“He was a brilliant grandfather, father and husband and will be missed by so many. At least now you’re back with your Shazza and can get back to drinking your Bacardi and Coke together. Rest in peace, Dad Dave.”
Neighbours who expressed their horror at David’s death have since said he may have only had the dog for a few weeks and lived alone. Resident Arun Thomas did not think David had had the dog for long, estimating it was no more than a month, and said he had never heard it bark before then.
He said: “Yesterday I didn’t hear anything during the day. Later I looked out of the window and heard people saying that a dog had attacked a man and he had died.
“We are scared after what happened, people here have children. It was a shock for us. We did not expect something like this. Every day you see this person and you say: ‘Hello, how are you?’
“This kind of dog is dangerous, people should not keep them at home.”
The police investigation into the circumstances of David’s death is continuing. Investigators said the investigation will focus on how the dog came into their possession and the previous owner.
