‘Law will not allow people to resort to violence’
A new law which allows homeowners to use reasonable force in the home when confronted by intruders is not a licence for people to resort to violence, a senior Garda chief has said.
The recent introduction of a new law which allows homeowners to use reasonable force against intruders in their own homes has been given a guarded welcome by the county’s most senior Garda chief.
Superintendent Denis Shields said the implementation of the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011 almost two weeks ago must be strictly adhered to.
“It doesn’t give anybody a licence to use violence against people,” he said. “What it does allow is for people to protect their home and to use reasonable force.”
The law was introduced in a bid to remove any lingering doubt on the issue of self-defence in the home, much of which stemmed from the high profile Padraig Nally case in 2005.
After being sentenced to six years imprisonment for manslaughter, the County Mayo farmer’s conviction was quashed in October 2006, two months before he was found not guilty of manslaughter.
Supt Sheilds said while people now have legal protection under the act, the Longford town superintendent was anxious to stress that each case would be judged on its own merits.
To read this story in full see this week’s Longford Leader.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Longford, Ireland
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.