Karen Walsh: Retreat and call the gardaí if you encounter a home intruder

What are your legal rights when defending yourself from intruders on your home?

In 48% of home burglaries, residents were in their houses while they were being burgled. Their rights in defending themselves or their dwelling have been clarified in the Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Act 2011.

Recent figures from the Central Statistics Office show that there was somebody present in the house when 48% of burglaries were taking place.