Ms Morley was killed after being attacked by an XL – bully dog at a house in Ballyneety, Co Limerick late on Tuesday.
“We’re leaving off balloons tomorrow night At 6.30 outside my Mother’s, if people could get purple and yellow balloons,” wrote Nicole’s sister, Jolene on social media.
“If you can’t get any, any balloons will do, my poor sister didn’t deserve it I will love and miss you.”
The deceased woman’s relative said she has been speaking with her sibling moments before the devastating incident.
Nicole Morey with dog
“My heart is shattered once again. I only hung up on you 2 seconds before, I really tried my best to help,” she wrote on social media.
“I’m so sorry Nicole I love you so much. It feels like a bad dream,” Jolene added.
Images have emerged on social media of Ms Morley with a number of dogs, including a video posted on Nicole’s TikTok account, showing her with an XL bulldog.
Nicole posted an image of two other dogs at Christmas 2021 when she said it was their “first Christmas together.”
Social media is flooded with tributes to Nicole as details of her death appeared on RIP.ie which states:
“The death has occurred of Nicole Lisa Marie Morey, Bawnmore View, Crossagalla, Limerick City, Limerick
“Recently pre-deceased by her grandparents Patrick O’Donnell (Senior) and Marie Morey.
“Unexpectedly, on her 23rd Birthday.
“Very deeply regretted by her mother Lisa, father Patrick, stepparents Joseph and Nicola, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents Gerry Morey and Teresa O’Donnell, cousins, other relatives and her many friends.
“May her gentle soul Rest in Peace.”
The note concludes by stating that funeral details will be announced at a later time.
Another wrote a touching tribute: “Nicole Morey to be taken so tragically on your birthday my heart is broken.
“You offered unconditional love and support in the darkest of times.
“You were always checking in and sent me some beautiful messages that encouraged my healing journey.
“You never forgot Mother’s day and you held me in your heart. I now hold you in mine forever
“God only takes the best and you were definitely one of them. Love your soul little lady, rest in eternal peace.”
Nicole had only posted in the Dog Behaviour and Training Tips Facebook group recently looking for advice on training her pet.
“When I go to put my xl on the lead for walks, he’s freaking out, running to the door out of excitement,” she wrote.
“But nearly too excited for us to even get the lead and collar on him,” she added.
In a statement earlier today, a garda spokesman confirmed three dogs were seized and one dog destroyed by officers.
“At approximately 11.40pm last night, Tuesday 4th June 2024, gardaí received a report and attended an incident where a woman (23) was fatally injured following a dog attack at a domestic residence in Ballyneety, Co. Limerick.
Forensic Gardai at the scene near Ballyneety, Co. Limerick
“Gardaí from the Regional Armed Support Unit attended and during the course of making the scene safe, encountered a number of aggressive dogs on the property. One dog was destroyed and three dogs were restrained by Gardaí.
“The three dogs have been seized by the Dog Warden.
“A women, aged in her 20s, was treated by paramedics and succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
“Her body has been removed to University Hospital, Limerick where a post mortem examination will take place.
“The local coroner has been notified. The scene is being held for a technical examination.
“An investigation is underway by gardaí from Roxboro Road Garda Station.
“Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Roxboro Road Garda Station on (061) 214 340, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.”
It comes as gardai were forced to issue a public appeal for people not to share graphic footage of the horrific incident.
“We are aware that footage of this incident is currently in circulation,” gardai said today.
“Out of respect for the deceased, her family and all her loved ones, we are requesting that this footage is not shared on social media and/or messaging apps and that if received, please do not reshare.”
Earlier, the Sunday World spoke with an anonymous source close to the case who has given a detailed account of what happened.
“There was four dogs in the house,” the source said.
Nicole Morey
“It was an XL Bully in a room with the girl and a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. There were two large dogs in another room.
“They attacked the girl and she ran out the front door. Someone could see it happening on a camera – possibly a door bell camera.
“She was (attacked) by the XL Bully, then the Staffordshire joined in.
“An armed detective arrived, the dog was at the top of the stairs, he had to put four bullets into the dog to stop the dog.
“That was at roughly midnight.” the source said.
Cllr Seán Hartigan reacted to the heartbreaking news and told the Sunday World there is an an issue with dangerous dogs throughout Limerick and throughout the country, in general.
“Particularly with very large powerful breeds. This is something I have been bringing up as a councillor for Limerick City east.
“I have brought this up with the joint policing committee for a couple of years.
“The dog warden’s aren’t equipped to deal with situations of dangerous dogs, they don’t have overtime and are not on-call officially to go out and deal with the situations of dangerous dogs.
“I’ve been calling for a shared database between all parties.”
Reacting today, Justice Minister Helen McEntee described the death of Ms Morey as “horrific” and “very upsetting” and said she believed a ban should be imposed on certain breeds of dog.
“Things like this just should not happen,” she told RTÉ’s News At One programme,
“My thoughts are with the young woman’s family and the wider community. This is not something we see happen very often and it is very distressing for everybody involved.
“There were gardaí on the scene very quickly and a number of dogs that had to be taken away and one put down.
“I think it is only right that we have an investigation into what happened here and that we understand the facts and how we can ensure that this does not happen again,” she said.
She referred to the expert group set up by Minister Heather Humphreys looking at dogs that are on restricted lists here in Ireland.
On whether we should issue an outright ban on certain breeds here in Ireland, Ms McEntee said: “Personally, I think there should be, yes.”
“Where a dog is known to be potentially vicious… where there is a pattern of particular dogs, then we do need to go further here,” she said.
Ms McEntee added that we need to take into account some of the rules that apply in public with restrictive breeds such as muzzles or restricted areas.
“This was in a person’s home, so how do we protect people where they have dogs that are restricted, even within their own homes as well?
“This review group is looking at all of the options here,” she said, adding that her colleague Ms Humphreys is expecting recommendations “in the near future” from the group.
“We need to ensure that nothing like this happens again, this is really, really devastating,” the minister added.
