"I'd blow the legs off any intruder in my home" says councillor

snubbleste · 15-01-2013 11:50AM #1

Independent - I'd blow the legs off any intruder in my home, says councillor

Cllr Padraig Conneely said he believed the current spate of robberies would result in a death because people were being terrorised in their own homes. And he warned that in similar circumstances he would pull the trigger. "I believe one body laid out on a slab after a robbery would put an end to robberies in the area pretty lively," he added. ..He does not own a firearm but insisted if he had, he would have no issue about using it in such circumstances. "If you were to come home and find people in your house ransacking it, you have to think what state of mind would that leave you in? "I think I'd have pulled the trigger and blew the legs off them if I had found them," he said.
Garda Superintendent Marie Skehill responded to Mr Conneely's comments, saying: "I'm glad, chairman, you don't have a firearm."

:cool: :cool:

meoklmrk91 · 15-01-2013 11:52AM

I don't see anything wrong with what he said.

thesandeman · 15-01-2013 11:55AM

He was on Pat Kenny giving his 'point of view' earlier.

snubbleste · 15-01-2013 11:56AM

He represents the main government party at local level. I don't think that was in FG's manifesto at the last elections.

kippy · 15-01-2013 11:56AM

This guy riles me up no end. Indeed many members of the most inept organisation I know of (Galway City Councilers) make me embarrassed to be living in this city.
I really dont know why people vote for these guys, or indeed why we need them at all, they seem to argue about the most mundane things, drag out issues that should be sorted in no time and stand over some of the biggest project cost over runs in this state.
Indeed wasn't conneely parked on a footpath yesterday when he was discussing illegal parking in this very meeting!

What he said on this topic, who really cares - the guy doesn't even have a firearm.

Indeed, it's akin to saying, if I had a million euro, I'd give it to the poor.
When you don't have a million Euro and your sentiment cannot be proven one way or another.

snubbleste · 15-01-2013 11:57AM

kippy wrote: »

What he said on this topic, who really cares - the guy doesn't even have a firearm.

..and every burglar in the country knows it.

inisboffin · 15-01-2013 12:04PM

snubbleste wrote: »

..and every burglar in the country knows it.

IF its true!

Mrs OBumble · 15-01-2013 01:09PM

I wonder what he thinks about the abortion legislation debate?

Most of the people who are opposed to legislation change have this view because they are opposed to murder. Cllr Connelley clearly isn't opposed to murder ("I believe one body laid out on a slab after a robbery ... ") so .....

biko · 15-01-2013 01:59PM

Pádraig Conneely is a very "outspoken" person but to a point I agree with him.
If you come into my house on "bad business", don't expect me to do nothing. If I have a means to stop the robbery I will try to use it.

VinLieger · 15-01-2013 02:07PM

Completely agree with what he said, i believe a persons home is their castle and a burglar forfeits all rights when breaking in.
I dont own a firearm but i do own a rather large gurka knife which i keep beside my bed, i dont know about killing someone but i would deffinitely set out to harm/incapacitate with it anyone who invaded my home which in my opinion would be simple self defence

Scofflaw · 15-01-2013 03:31PM

Thread moved into Politics.

moderately,
Scofflaw

yore · 15-01-2013 03:36PM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I wonder what he thinks about the abortion legislation debate?

Most of the people who are opposed to legislation change have this view because they are opposed to murder. Cllr Connelley clearly isn't opposed to murder ("I believe one body laid out on a slab after a robbery ... ") so .....

Bit of a large jump there...... you should look up the definitions, both legal and moral, of murder

Denerick · 15-01-2013 04:03PM

A citizen has a right to defend themselves in their own home, I think this is (Or should be) a no brainer. But the kind of populist pigwash this councillor is spouting, attempting to appeal to the most base instincts of the electorate, is exactly the reason why Irish democracy is such a cesspool.

goose2005 · 15-01-2013 04:28PM

VinLieger wrote: »

Completely agree with what he said, i believe a persons home is their castle and a burglar forfeits all rights when breaking in.

All rights? Doesn't self-defence have to be some bit proportionate? If someone shoves you in a pub, do you stab him?

hardCopy · 15-01-2013 04:49PM

goose2005 wrote: »

All rights? Doesn't self-defence have to be some bit proportionate? If someone shoves you in a pub, do you stab him?

If he's in my house he doesn't even have to shove me. (My moral code, not my interpretation of the law)

The location is what matters here.

VinLieger · 15-01-2013 05:08PM

goose2005 wrote: »

All rights? Doesn't self-defence have to be some bit proportionate? If someone shoves you in a pub, do you stab him?

If a person invades my house in my book all rights are forfeit, how am i to know what they plan to do? simply steal or hurt me or my family? In that situation you have to assume the worst and act accordingly. I wouldnt set out to kill them but if intimidation and/or some physical harm didnt deter them then obviously i would do what needed to be done and have no regrets about it.

We are talking about peoples homes here not a night out in the pub, stop trying to change the subject

Mossess · 15-01-2013 05:19PM

OK, I’ll start by saying that I'm against all forms of violence. If I caught a burglar in my house they would be removed by garden hose as their wouldn't be a solid bit of them left to get enough of a grip to put into a body bag.
The law will do nothing to these people who rob houses. I on the other hand, would. I don’t own a gun. I have kids so I wouldn't want one in the house. But even if I did have a gun I would be very hesitant about drawing it. You’d make bits of the walls.

kippy · 15-01-2013 05:21PM

VinLieger wrote: »

If a person invades my house in my book all rights are forfeit, how am i to know what they plan to do? simply steal or hurt me or my family? In that situation you have to assume the worst and act accordingly. I wouldnt set out to kill them but if intimidation and/or some physical harm didnt deter them then obviously i would do what needed to be done and have no regrets about it.

We are talking about peoples homes here not a night out in the pub, stop trying to change the subject

I think a lot of people are missing the point of this thread.

There have been plenty threads on this and other fora down through the years about the rights and wrongs of protecting your home.

The point, I believe, is that this comment is coming from an elected representative and more importantly an elected representative, who, like some other famous elected representatives in Galway, tend to come out with this populist bull crap on a regular occasion.

Scofflaw · 15-01-2013 05:24PM

Can we limit this discussion to whether you're for or against the use of force on intruders in your home, rather than showing off just how righteously hard you are.

moderately,
Scofflaw

Mossess · 15-01-2013 05:24PM

kippy wrote: »

I think a lot of people are missing the point of this thread.

There have been plenty threads on this and other fora down through the years about the rights and wrongs of protecting your home.

The point, I believe, is that this comment is coming from an elected representative and more importantly an elected representative, who, like some other famous elected representatives in Galway, tend to come out with this populist bull crap on a regular occasion.

It might be populist bull crap, but with the numbers of Guards being reduced and crime going up there is no longer any other option. His speaking out about these things is a reflection of what people are saying. Maybe it’s time the law of the land reflected the feelings of the people of the land.

VinLieger · 15-01-2013 05:28PM

kippy wrote: »

I think a lot of people are missing the point of this thread.

There have been plenty threads on this and other fora down through the years about the rights and wrongs of protecting your home.

The point, I believe, is that this comment is coming from an elected representative and more importantly an elected representative, who, like some other famous elected representatives in Galway, tend to come out with this populist bull crap on a regular occasion.

And in my previous post i agreed with what he said, and was questioned on my reasoning so i answered.
He's simply voicing the opinion of alot of people who are angry that in many of these cases criminals end up with more rights than the occupants of the house they are burglaring

kippy · 15-01-2013 07:44PM

Mossess wrote: »

It might be populist bull crap, but with the numbers of Guards being reduced and crime going up there is no longer any other option. His speaking out about these things is a reflection of what people are saying. Maybe it’s time the law of the land reflected the feelings of the people of the land.

Indeed. And if those we elect spent more time coming up with and debating laws etc instead of spouting crap we'd be in a better position. People have been saying and dome have been doing it for years.
Do you know how much money has been wasted on the watch of this guy and others in the galway chamber? Do away with the lot of them and put the savings into policing if you will.....
These guys have been arguing about a name for a pitch for ages. Embarrassing. Look up the galway advertiser fb page for more examples of the muck that goes on at these meetings.

MadsL · 15-01-2013 07:57PM

If this councillor is talking about blowing the legs off intruders, he ought to get his shotgun looked at - or aim higher!

Ireland has a castle doctrine and I see no issue with that. The main issue I see is that even if the firearm is legally help he cannot actually train legally with it as teaching defensive firearm in a practical setting is illegal in Ireland, as is owning a firearm for personal defence in the home.

Oh, and this made me chuckle.

CptMackey · 15-01-2013 07:58PM

spikethedog wrote: »

Spot on there.
If some scumbag wants to break into my home and crawl around mine or my young kids bedrooms on the rob they can expect summary justice.
The sooner a few of them are laid out, the better. It might make the other ones think before they act.
At least now the law is back on the homeowners side.

It is about time. If it were my house I would use any and all means including killing him/her no problem

MadsL · 15-01-2013 07:58PM

spikethedog wrote: »

At least now the law is back on the homeowners side.

The law was always on the householders side - it has just been clarified.

Death and Taxes · 15-01-2013 08:01PM

I thought the Garda Superintendent at the meeting in question summed it up best when replied "I am glad you don't own a gun".
Citizens do not have the right to shoot anyone entering btheir home, noot even a burglar, they can only act proportionally to the threat, and an unarmed burglar running away from you poses no immediate threat.

CptMackey · 15-01-2013 08:05PM

WileyCoyote wrote: »

I thought the Garda Superintendent at the meeting in question summed it up best when replied "I am glad you don't own a gun".
Citizens do not have the right to shoot anyone entering btheir home, noot even a burglar, they can only act proportionally to the threat, and an unarmed burglar running away from you poses no immediate threat.

I can't understand this mentality tho. If they enter your home unlawfully why should the home owner be held responsible at all if the burglar is shot. They should have NO protection under the law once the enter your home. They are hardly there for your benifit.

MadsL · 15-01-2013 08:29PM

WileyCoyote wrote: »

I thought the Garda Superintendent at the meeting in question summed it up best when replied "I am glad you don't own a gun".
Citizens do not have the right to shoot anyone entering btheir home, noot even a burglar, they can only act proportionally to the threat, and an unarmed burglar running away from you poses no immediate threat.

Really?

2.— (1) Notwithstanding the generality of any other enactment or rule of law and subject to subsections (2) and (3), it shall not be an offence for a person who is in his or her dwelling, or for a person who is a lawful occupant in a dwelling, to use force against another person or the property of another person where—

(a) he or she believes the other person has entered or is entering the dwelling as a trespasser for the purpose of committing a criminal act, and

(b) the force used is only such as is reasonable in the circumstances as he or she believes them to be—

(i) to protect himself or herself or another person present in the dwelling from injury, assault, detention or death caused by a criminal act,

(ii) to protect his or her property or the property of another person from appropriation, destruction or damage caused by a criminal act, or

(iii) to prevent the commission of a crime or to effect, or assist in effecting, a lawful arrest.

Whilst shooting a fleeing intruder is bad sport, I wonder are you really arguing for 'the duty to retreat'...

The police association of superintendents and inspectors, the AGSI, stated before the bill became law, that “the current situation, which legally demands a house owner retreat from an intruder, was intolerable."

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-homeowners-now-have-legal-right-to-shoot-intruders-in-their-homes-137373588.html#ixzz2I4eUXUuT

Nothing in this Act shall operate to require—

(a) a person to retreat from his or her dwelling, or

(b) a lawful occupant in a dwelling to retreat from the dwelling

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2011/en/act/pub/0035/sec0003.html#sec3

walshb · 15-01-2013 08:48PM

I would have no hesitation in shooting a person who entered my home illegally in the process of say a burglary or an attack situation. I wouldn't be happy to kill someone, but it's them or me. And, in split seconds there is little time to reason or bargain.

Dr Turk Turkelton · 15-01-2013 08:51PM

WileyCoyote wrote: »

I thought the Garda Superintendent at the meeting in question summed it up best when replied "I am glad you don't own a gun".
Citizens do not have the right to shoot anyone entering btheir home, noot even a burglar, they can only act proportionally to the threat, and an unarmed burglar running away from you poses no immediate threat.

That's why it would probably be better to kill them rather than maim them if they were running away.
Dead men can't tell the truth in court!

GSF · 15-01-2013 08:55PM

VinLieger wrote: »

If a person invades my house in my book all rights are forfeit, how am i to know what they plan to do? simply steal or hurt me or my family? In that situation you have to assume the worst and act accordingly. I wouldnt set out to kill them but if intimidation and/or some physical harm didnt deter them then obviously i would do what needed to be done and have no regrets about it.

We are talking about peoples homes here not a night out in the pub, stop trying to change the subject

So now if you want to bump someone off all you have to do is invite them around to your house, kill them and claim he was an intruder. Since by your rules you have 100% right in all circumstances to kill anyone you choose in your home, you can't be prosecuted. I suppose be your rules you could even knock off the missus and get away with it.

"I'd blow the legs off any intruder in my home" says councillor

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