An elderly farmer died on Saturday as he tried to save his son who was being attacked by a cow.
The 74-year-old, named locally as Michael O’Dea, had gone to dose a newly born calf with his son, Eddie, in his 30s, at their farm at Clonina near Cree, west Clare. The agitated cow is said to have turned on the younger man when his father tried to intervene.
The cow then turned on the pensioner, who sustained fatal injuries. It is understood the cow kicked him several times.
His son, who suffered a broken ankle, managed to run and raise the alarm. Medics could not save the farmer, who was pronounced dead by a local doctor. The body was taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital where a postmortem is expected.
Gardaí notified the Health and Safety Authority, and two inquiries are under way.