Today is a bad day for some crooks! Well done Gerry Kennedy.

Q_Ball · 24-02-2012 11:34AM

He became concerned for his safety during a tense confrontation with the burglars and as two of the gang jumped into a car, he fired one shot in their direction.

Any confrontation of this type is going to be tense, but he shot him in the back as they were getting into a car. As was said earlier, I wonder if this could be construed as assault.

I wonder if the scumbag mentality will kick in and and they come back armed in some way in greater numbers. While we'd see it as justified retaliation in defence of a property, those committing the crime don't see it the same way.

danniemcq · 24-02-2012 11:38AM

Sykk wrote: »

Or, just exterminate the thrash there and then and don't bear the cost of feeding them on the taxpayer, where the money could go to something better like hospitals/homeless etc.

cost wouldn't be as high if they just got spuds and cheap meat for meals, no tvs, no computer games, i know of hotels that have less facilities than prisons.

bring back island prisons, we have enough of them around the country, lead weights around wrists and ankles

Biggins · 24-02-2012 11:47AM

Q_Ball wrote: »

Any confrontation of this type is going to be tense, but he shot him in the back as they were getting into a car. As was said earlier, I wonder if this could be construed as assault...

"Your honour, while we struggled, they threatened to come back with more people and/or with weapons.
I feared for my family and myself as they ran off. I was scared they would return given the chance so I fired on self-defence reasons, for fearing the words they spoke to me with their possible return.

I would like to claim self-defence."

Penn · 24-02-2012 11:53AM

Sykk wrote: »

Or, just exterminate the thrash there and then and don't bear the cost of feeding them on the taxpayer, where the money could go to something better like hospitals/homeless etc.

Where do you stop? What crime warrants death? How much evidence is needed to make sure someone is definitely, 100% guilty? How do you choose if someone could possibly be rehabilitated instead?

The burglars in this case, while being scumbags of the highest order and while I have no sympathy for the injuries they received or the punishment they'll face... Do they really deserve to die? Is that really the best solution? And if it is, how the f*ck do I get off this planet because that's not a world I want to live in.

24-02-2012 12:06PM

He should have shot him in the spine. Not many factories and farms have wheelchair ramps these days.

Biggins · 24-02-2012 12:14PM

Edz87 wrote: »

He should have shot him in the spine. Not many factories and farms have wheelchair ramps these days.

The emotional side of me might see where your coming from - but in reality, if the person was to suffer permanent spinal injury, etc, further hardships might be forced also on the rest of the family of the person shot, for the rest of their lives, not just his?
Do they really deserve that unofficial punishment too?
The shot crook might deserve to some extent what he got but punishment should be given to those guilty, not necessarily their entire family also?

...Its just a thought.

monkeypants · 24-02-2012 12:15PM

I'm wondering this morning if the Garda reaction was more due to the fact that a firearm was used that the burglary/raid itself. If it was, it's an unexpected benefit of shooting burglars/raiders.

Good on that man, but I fear that it's far from over for him.

24-02-2012 12:24PM

Biggins wrote: »

The emotional side of me might see where your coming from - but in reality, if the person was to suffer permanent spinal injury, etc, further hardships might be forced also on the rest of the family of the person shot, for the rest of their lives, not just his?
do they really deserve that unofficial punishment too?
The shot crook might deserve to some extent what he got but punishment should be given to those guilty, not necessarily their entire family also?

...Its just a thought.

Thats fair enough I suppose, but the lad wielding the shotgun did not bring that into consideration, he aimed and fired. And seeing where the injuries were the shooter was aiming for the upper body. If a close group of buckshot hit him in the back of the head it would be a completely different story.

Biggins · 24-02-2012 12:26PM

monkeypants wrote: »

I'm wondering this morning if the Garda reaction was more due to the fact that a firearm was used that the burglary/raid itself. If it was, it's an unexpected benefit of shooting burglars/raiders.

Good on that man, but I fear that it's far from over for him.

The Gardi WILL have to follow proper procedures, especially as a firearm was used.
...And they will know, they will have to be seen doing the above.

Mr Kennedy will be utterly questioned, probably a number of times to check for any inconsistencies in his version of events.
That said, afterwards the Gardi will eventually have to submit an official report to a director of prosecutions - if they feel he might be deserving of a full charge - who will look at any evidence for and against Mr Kennedy - and decide if there is any real chance of a further successful prosecution.

To be very honest, if I was sitting on a jury, I'd be hard pressed to find Mr Kennedy guilty so far of anything.

Biggins · 24-02-2012 12:30PM

Edz87 wrote: »

Thats fair enough I suppose, but the lad wielding the shotgun did not bring that into consideration, he aimed and fired. And seeing where the injuries were the shooter was aiming for the upper body. If a close group of buckshot hit him in the back of the head it would be a completely different story.

From my reading of the article (and open to be wrong), the man was shot while in the transport?
If so, he would have been sitting down in a seat.
Mr Kennedy didn't fire (it seems) at the easier target - the crooks head - but at the transport itself and the seat and I assume, side of the driver?

As you say, if a close group of buckshot hit him in the back of the head, it might be a completely different story.
Thankfully in this case, he didn't (for his sake alone too) it appears.

Doc Ruby · 24-02-2012 12:34PM

danniemcq wrote: »

For much the same reason i have a lovely bit of a tree above teh stairs to grab and beat 7 shades of sh*te outta anyone dumb enough to try and break into the house.

I don't think you're meant to keep things in your house for the express purpose of bayting people. For example I have one of these which makes a lovely walking stick and helps when I get the odd twinge in my heel

(skip to around 30 seconds in)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJvLNkFzblQ

I would never contemplate using it on someone unless in an extreme situation though.

upandcumming · 24-02-2012 12:36PM

TouchingVirus wrote: »

I used to live on the same road as Gerry and my parents still do, a nice guy who puts pretty much all he has into his business and fair play for defending it from thieves, I can't imagine it was an easy thing to do. The parents told me it was like CSI down there yesterday with forensics, ambulances, garda cars and the helicopter

It's about 8 minutes driving on rural roads, 10 minutes out the N4 from the nearest Garda station too (within legal speed limits) so fair play for the Gardai getting out so fast.

Alot of my family are from Killoe. 10 minutes was still a tasty bit of driving to get out there! I have to say fair play to the Gardai too, they were all over the shop! Apparently, one of them went into Begleys!

SEPT 23 1989 · 24-02-2012 12:38PM

The local community should stand with this man if those animals return

Micky Dolenz · 24-02-2012 12:39PM

I found it interesting that RTE news felt the need to report that the 3 would be thieves were Irish. Who cares?

MonkieSocks · 24-02-2012 12:41PM

problemchimp wrote: »

Calm down, if someone robs a sofa they should be put to death?

Yes.....................Give them "The Chair"

prinz · 24-02-2012 12:42PM

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I found it interesting that RTE news felt the need to report that the 3 would be thieves were Irish. Who cares?

In fairness there have been lots of rumours going around about criminal gangs of Eastern Europeans. RTE making it clear who the three were in this case might rob someone of the opportunity to blame it on Polish or some others.

StephenHendry · 24-02-2012 12:45PM

fair play to him. its such a big risk to take. not only you're risk getting killed yourself and/or being charged possibly by the gardai depending on the circumstances etc. i hope he doesnt get any charge as it appears he was clearly defending his own property

gurramok · 24-02-2012 01:02PM

That should read - 3 would be thieves are an "Irish racial minority"?:pac:

Kid Charlemagne · 24-02-2012 01:05PM

problemchimp wrote: »

Calm down, if someone robs a sofa they should be put to death?

1 sofa - no.
The 3 strikes rule for crimes involving breaking and entering, GBH, sex offences - basically more serious crimes that seriously impact on innocent peoples safety/happiness/quality of life - should be introduced. Instead of life imprisonment though, give the perps the chair.

We should also be giving the chair to fiscal recklesness that jeopardises the liquidity of the state. ie - bankers. watch them fry.

Repeat drink drivers? Same rules apply.

Wash the scum off the streets.

The King of Moo · 24-02-2012 01:29PM

This seems to have been fairly sensibly handled all around and I don't think the owner will get prosecuted. He was on his property and had been threatened, and also it seems his shot was meant as a warning, not to kill.
He might have regretted it later, knowing that it might mean the thieves coming back, but he was acting in the moment.

As to people calling for the death penalty for anything, let alone burglary: I still don't see why people think it would be a good idea. It's long been proven that it doesn't work as a deterrent. It just satisfies some people's violent revenge fantasies.
I'm glad we don't get to have a referendum about instating the death penalty.

mathepac · 24-02-2012 01:39PM

Well done Mr. Kennedy but, like other posters, I fear he might be in trouble with the law. Hopefully not as I believe he deserves a medal for facing up to the three scummy thugs.

We've had two break-ins in our estate and a car robbed a couple of miles out the road on the same night. Since then I have a handy length of armoured cable lying around - after wiring up the garden shed like. There's a fair sting out of it I believe, going by the squeals out of the thug I found in the back garden a while ago. I got a couple of strikes onto his buttocks and legs as as he climbed out over the wall; no sign of him since.

Badgermonkey · 24-02-2012 01:44PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

I'm glad we don't get to have a referendum about instating the death penalty.

Mise freisin.

We'd somehow manage to make it 'bout the X case, Irish neutrality, co-location of hospitals, illegal turf-cutting, protected species of Funghi (possibly growing on Richard Boyd-Barrett), Shell-to-Sea, Ruhama, Youth Defense and Declan Ganley.

tigger123 · 24-02-2012 01:56PM

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

1 sofa - no.
The 3 strikes rule for crimes involving breaking and entering, GBH, sex offences - basically more serious crimes that seriously impact on innocent peoples safety/happiness/quality of life - should be introduced. Instead of life imprisonment though, give the perps the chair.

We should also be giving the chair to fiscal recklesness that jeopardises the liquidity of the state. ie - bankers. watch them fry.

Repeat drink drivers? Same rules apply.

Wash the scum off the streets.

:pac:

jakobgallagher · 24-02-2012 01:57PM

Kid Charlemagne wrote: »

Great to hear this alright.
Its time the debate on the death penalty was opened up again though, this idea of "rehabillitation" clearly doesnt work.
Give serial burglars the chair and watch the crime rates drop.

If only there was a large country that was split up into states some of which had the death penalty and others which had not, then we could compare the crime rates and see if the death penalty actually worked as a deterrent, but alas such a place does not exist. :rolleyes:

someuser905 · 24-02-2012 02:07PM

But he shoot him in the back and he was not even in his home! That is attempted murder and I hope the Gardai charge him. The victim is entitled to compensation in this case. We shouldn't put material things above a life - a life can not be replaced.

24-02-2012 02:07PM

After watching Knuckles on RTE during the week, I saw the travelling community in a slightly different light. It is such a strong example of what happens when basic or no formal education exists throughout an entire community.

Watching people dance around threatening each other on camera, and holding grudges over petty issues reminded me of a period of time in my life.

Primary school.

My fear in this instance is this childlike "must get you back" attitude may see him targeted in the future. I don't think he will face formal prosecution, or at least I don't see one as being successful. Far worse instances were committed in a legislative environment less favorable than the current one.

To all the people talking about what weapons they have stocked away ready to RAMBO a burglar. Maybe you have training or experience, but I think you should think twice if you do not. Get your family (wife / kids) into a room and block entry to that room and stay in there with them. If someone is there to Rob you, they will likely leave once interuppted. If someone is there to Rob / hurt you - you are taking the risk of leaving your loved ones defencless when your attempt to defend your home is met with a more deadly weapon in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.

Someone may want to hold you / your wife until you tell them where valuables are, or car keys. Trust me - unless you are supremely confident in your ability to defend yourself (and base this confidence on actual experience) then just make yourself and your family unreachable until the Gardai arrive. Anyone who stays and faces your confrontation instead of running is more likely to be a serious threat.

The real "hero" does everything he can to protect his family first, not protect his ego and family at the same time.

mikemac1 · 24-02-2012 02:09PM

I guess I'm a bigot so

First line of the OP has gang and tools stolen from van

Travelers I reckoned and so it is, confirmed near the end of the article

Every stereotype has a grain of truth

Biggins · 24-02-2012 02:12PM

someuser905 wrote: »

But he shoot him in the back and he was not even in his home! That is attempted murder and I hope the Gardai charge him. The victim is entitled to compensation in this case. We shouldn't put material things above a life - a life can not be replaced.

The crook was attempting to drive away with material things belonging not to him - but owned to the people he had terrified with his threatening actions of breaking into their property!

By the way also - 'attempted murder' my arse.
Go learn your law. That charge WOULD NOT be applied anyway - and the man was not in his home when the shot was fired - BUT WAS on his property still!

I believe that the recent changed law in this area, now allows you to try hold onto and protect your own items also!

girl in the striped socks · 24-02-2012 02:13PM

someuser905 wrote: »

But he shoot him in the back and he was not even in his home! That is attempted murder and I hope the Gardai charge him. The victim is entitled to compensation in this case. We shouldn't put material things above a life - a life can not be replaced.

I think he has a right to protect what is his, be it his life, his family or his possesions. I couldn't care less if they hadn't entered the home. They were on his property & he felt threatened enough to arm himself with a gun for protection.

And the 'victim' can go & fcuk himself in my book if he thinks he should be entitled to any compensation. If it was my house he broke into & then the scummy bastard came looking for compensation I'd be disgusted with myself that I didn't kill him outright & get my moneys worth.

Liam Byrne · 24-02-2012 02:16PM

someuser905 wrote: »

But he shoot him in the back and he was not even in his home! That is attempted murder and I hope the Gardai charge him. The victim is entitled to compensation in this case. We shouldn't put material things above a life - a life can not be replaced.

The victim is Gerry Kennedy.......how much do you think the thugs should compensate him for stress and intimidation and loss of earnings and the time it will take to sort this out ?

Today is a bad day for some crooks! Well done Gerry Kennedy.

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