Funeral for baby attacked by dogs

Friends leaving tributes to Cadey-Lee outside the Rocket pub

A coroner has given the go-ahead for the family of a baby mauled to death by two Rottweilers to hold her funeral.

Five-month-old Cadey-Lee Deacon was savaged by the guard dogs at the Rocket pub in the New Parks area of Leicester on 23 September.

Leicester and South Leicestershire Coroner Martin Symington opened the inquest into her death.

He said: "I direct that the body can be released to the family for a funeral by way of cremation."

Investigation ongoing

He said the inquest would be adjourned until a date yet to be fixed.

Cadey-Lee's body had not been released before the inquest to allow for post-mortem examinations.

Results of the initial examination, carried out shortly after she died, were not made public at the hearing.

Giving a brief outline of the events, Detective Inspector David Richardson of Leicestershire Police said officers were called to the pub in Stephenson Drive after they had reports of a baby being mauled by dogs at that address.

However, when they arrived they found that the child had been taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

"Unfortunately, the child was certified dead a short time after her arrival," he added.

A police investigation into the baby's death is continuing.

Children treated

The two Rottweilers, which lived at the pub, were put down after the attack.

Cadey-Lee's funeral will take place at Gilroes Crematorium, Leicester, on Thursday.

Meanwhile, on average more than 80 children a year need hospital treatment in Leicestershire because of injuries inflicted by animals, it has been revealed.

Statistics released by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust show that half the injuries are caused by family pets.

So far this year, 66 children under 16 have been treated at Leicester Royal Infirmary's accident and emergency department.