Former council leader injured in dog attack

A FORMER Labour council leader has had part of his finger bitten off by a dog while canvassing for the elections.

David Sneller, who was previously leader of East Ayrshire Council was canvassing in Newmilns, Ayrshire when the accident happened.

He was rushed to hospital after a cross-breed pit-bull type dog seized his finger as he was pushing leaflets through the letterbox.

The next day police visited dog owner Michael Currie and he was charged under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. Mr Currie has been told that his dog Rhia may have to be destroyed.

Mr Sneller, who was campaigning for Matt McLaughlin, who is standing for the Kilmarnock and Irvine seat, is the third Labour campaigner to have his hand bitten through a letterbox over the past three years.

He was the head of East Ayrshire Council when it was hit with a scandal in 1998 after overspending 3.5million. He left his role soon after the scandal and was dropped as a candidate for the Scottish elections.

Friends of dog owner Mr Currie and his partner Leighann Devlin said Mr Sneller should have noticed the signs which said "Beware of the Dog" and kept his hand away from the letterbox.

Strathclyde Police said: "A 22-year-old man is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal."

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