‘He was my best little mate’: Dad’s heartbreak over toddler mauling tragedy

Brayden O’Hanlon, 24, has emerged from prison where he was being held on remand and opened up on the horrific death of his toddler son in a dog attack.

The father of a little boy killed by two savage dogs at a Cowra motel says he has lost his best friend.

Brayden O’Hanlon, 24, was released from prison on Friday night on compassionate grounds after an urgent court application for bail was granted to let him be with family while he processed the devastating news.

His only son Jyedon Pollard, 2, was fatally attacked by two dogs at the Country Gardens Motor Inn on Tuesday in front of his mother Kesha Pollard.

Little Jyedon was riding his scooter in the grounds of the motel and somehow made his way into the enclosure where a rottweiler and a cattle dog were kept, and the dogs launched at him.

Mr O’Hanlon told The Daily Telegraph he was grateful to be out of prison and surrounded by family while he deals with the tragedy.

Brayden O’Hanlon and his son Jyedon Pollard who was mauled to death by two dogs in Cowra. Picture: Supplied

“I’m just so lost and numb ... He was my best little mate,” Mr O’Hanlon said.

Mr O’Hanlon last saw his son on October 19 when he was refused bail on a string of charges including break and enter, car theft and larceny.

Police on the scene of the fatal attack this week. Picture: TNV

But he hoped to get bail when he was due back on court on November 23 and be back home with his son.

Mr O’Hanlon’s sister made the heartbreaking call to him in prison on Tuesday night to tell him Jyedon had died from the horrific dog attack.

The distraught man was placed on suicide watch in hospital until his legal team successfully applied for his temporary release. He must adhere to strict conditions including a night curfew.

The Country Gardens Motel, Cowra. Picture: TNV

Mr O’Hanlon said he hadn’t asked Ms Pollard too many details of the attack, because they were both still in shock.

“Kesha is doing it hard, but she seems more relaxed I’m home,” he said.

“I haven’t had a chance to sit down and talk with Kesha so I don’t know exactly how (the attack happened).”

Ms Pollard and her three children, including Jyedon and his two older sisters, had been living at the motel temporarily while they waited for permanent accommodation through the NSW Department of Housing.

On Sunday, Mr O’Hanlon posted 10 crying emojis alongside a photograph of Jyedon on his social media profile.

“My heart is broken for you my brother. I love you so much. I’m so sorry,” Mr O’Hanlon’s sister Tearna wrote beneath the post.

The dogs were owned by the motel manager Matt McIllhatton who was the first person to discover the attack and raced a critically ill Jyedon to hospital.

Police said the animals were destroyed last week, and their investigation into the tragedy was ongoing.

A funeral service for Jyedon is being planned for later this week in Cowra.