Dai John wrote: » Under UK law if you are in fear of your life you can defend yourself with reasonable force. If the intruder has a knife it is ok to blast him with a shotgun, however you must shoot him in the front of his body. If you shoot him in the back it is assumed he was going away and did not represent a threat. At 78 or whatever it would be best to blast away at these lowlifes and admit to everything, that way you get to spend the rest of your life in comparative luxury in a nice clean cell with 3 square meals a day etc.
Spanish Eyes wrote: » I often wonder how many women would be in a position to fight back. Far as I know all perpetrators of intruder killings were men. But I am sure someone will put me right. Anyway. Just saying.
Chris_Heilong wrote: » As far as I know the law in Ireland says you can use equivalent force, so if someone breaks into your house with a baseball bat then you are legally allowed use a base ball bat to defend yourselves, If some one is coming to kill you with a knife you are allowed stab them and so on, but if they break in unarmed you are not allowed hit them over the head with a hammer for example. This law was introduced a few years ago when the old man down the country was arrested for shooting a burglar and there was public outcry that the guy had been arrested.
STB. wrote: » Its in the common area entrance to an apartment complex in Clondalkin. There are actually three armed burglary cases pending involving this teenager over the course of last weekend. Whilst there are better protections if you were at home, the same reasons apply to using reasonable self-defence. If the gravity of the situation requires force to protect oneselfs even if that may result in the death of an assailant then its the lawfulness is what comes into it. It would be very difficult to explain any form of calculation on the person attacked especially for self preservation, when you are being attacked by someone brandishing a knife in a slashing manner.
Lizbeth Squeaking Oats wrote: » This picture is from the Mirror, taken when he visited D for a couple of Guinness (at the same time), fair play to the 78yr old.https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/first-picture-pensioner-78-arrested-12304310
Irish Guitarist wrote: » He should be knighted and they should throw a big party for him with cocktail sausages made from the dead burglar and they should serve the cocktail sausages on screwdrivers.
ED E wrote: » Its no different here.
Irish Guitarist wrote: » I've never understood the thinking behind calling someone like this a hero.
Johngoose wrote: » Best to have a wide array of weapons by your bed, then judge what the burglar has and pick up the equivalent weapon.:-)
freshpopcorn wrote: » From what they just said on the news no further action will be taken against the man.
Irish Guitarist wrote: » I've never understood the thinking behind calling someone like this a hero. He defended himself. If he hadn't he could be dead. That's self survival, not heroism. I don't blame him for it but how exactly is it heroic? Heroism is putting your life at risk for someone else.