In an ideal world an individual would never have to confront an intruder in their home. In an ideal world the courts system would impose the kind of sanctions that would deter most criminals from relatively petty crimes such as burglary or fuel theft.

SATURDAY

LANDOWNERS are at the mercy of intruders due to delays in passing the Defence & Dwelling Bill which was agreed upon last July, says the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

THE rush-through of the Finance Bill ahead of the expected dissolution of the 30th Dáil today means a number of already-published laws might never make it into the statute books.

THE proposed home defence legislation is quite unnecessary because the defence of legal excuse exists in common law, exonerating an otherwise illegal act if it can be justified by the circumstances, for example homicide in self-defence.

THE new home defence legislation introduced by the Government has received broadly positive feedback so far.

THE new home defence bill has shifted the balance of rights back to the house owner “where it should always have been”, say gardaí.

THE Government has published legislation that willallow people to use “reasonable” force to defend themselves and their property.

MIDDLE-RANKING gardaí yesterday demanded people be given a clear right to protect their homes and their families.

JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern yesterday signalled his intention to include elements of a new draft bill allowing the use of lethal force by householders against intruders into law.

Victims of crime should have the right to use force to defend themselves in their home, legal experts told the Government today.

PEOPLE should be allowed to use lethal force if necessary when defending themselves against intruders in their homes, according to a report published today.

IN the Lone Star State of Texas where a frontier mentality fostered a culture of shoot first, ask questions later, citizens have the protection of the Castle Law.

A DONEGAL newspaper is standing by a report which said a serving garda sergeant praised the actions of Mayo farmer Padraig Nally when he killed a man who was breaking into his yard.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell hardly had Judge Sean McBride in mind when he changed the rules this week on the force people can use to protect their life and property from intruders.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is to draft a new bill allowing householders to use force to defend themselves and their property.

FOR Sale. Going cheap. Soul of a political party. High mileage but runs like new. A few dents but structurally intact. Driver thrown in. Good for another five years. No tyre-kickers.

Mayo farmer Padraig Nally is reportedly set to give evidence at the inquest into the death of the man he killed more than two years ago.

MAYO Fine Gael deputy Michael Ring said he was “delighted” with the Nally case ruling, claiming the verdict was “not about Travellers” and that Pádraig Nally was a man “living in fear”.

THE verdict in the Pádraig Nally case increases well-founded fears among walkers about venturing onto the mountains and hills of Ireland.

THE recent decision in the Pádraig Nally case casts great doubt on the credibility of the jury system.

THE next time somebody with a shotgun freaks out and blows away a stranger (who knows, perhaps it will be a Fine Gael canvasser?), will Michael Ring TD still spout his mantra — “This man never broke the law in his life?”)

PADRAIG NALLY says he won’t ever feel secure in his home again, but has vowed to stay there until he “goes into the grave”.

LEGISLATION on the rights of homeowners to defend their property from intruders is likely to be published early in 2007.

IN the space of 24 hours this week, two events highlighted the disturbing fault-line in attitudes to violence and gun crime in Irish society.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has said he intends to bring in new laws giving homeowners more rights to use force against trespassers and intruders.

IN 1869, not long after the American Civil War, Philip Sheridan, a US army general, was heard to remark: “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.”

No matter how controversial or emotive the decision was by the jury to free Pádraig Nally of the manslaughter charge yesterday, it must be remembered that a father of 11 died.

Emotions ran high following the not guilty verdict in the manslaughter trial of Padriag Nally at Dublin Central Criminal Court today.

Angry Travellers tonight hit out at a court decision to acquit a farmer of killing a member of their community.

Co Mayo farmer Padraig Nally has been cleared of the manslaughter of father-of-11 John Ward whom he shot twice and beat with a stick after the deceased entered his land.

The jury in the manslaughter trial of a Co Mayo farmer has been sent to a hotel for a second night.

The jury in the manslaughter trial of a Co Mayo farmer is to resume its deliberations this morning.

The jury in the manslaughter trial of Mayo farmer Padraig Nally has been sent to a hotel for the night after failing to reach a verdict at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin today.

The manslaughter trial of Mayo farmer Padráig Nally resumed at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin today after he was released from hospital where he was being treated for a medical condition.

The manslaughter trial of Mayo farmer Padraig Nally resumed at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin today after he was released from hospital where he was being treated for a medical condition.

PADRAIG Nally, the Mayo farmer on trial for shooting dead a Traveller, was under observation in hospital yesterday after being taken ill with chest pains.

The trial of Mayo farmer Padraig Nally accused of the manslaughter of a father-of-11 has been adjourned after he was taken to hospital with chest pains.

The neighbour of Co Mayo farmer Padraig Nally, who is on trial for the manslaughter of a Traveller, has claimed the accused was “demented with fear” about attacks on his property.

The son of a Traveller shot dead by Mayo farmer Padráig Nally has said the death F***ed up his whole family and that the accused had been allowed to walk around “Scotch free”.

The jury in the trial of a County Mayo farmer accused of the manslaughter of a father-of-eleven over two years ago has been shown maps of where the killing took place.

The prosecution in the trial of a Co Mayo farmer who has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of a traveller more than two years ago, has claimed he hit the deceased like a badger, before shooting him as he tried to limp away.

A jury has been sworn in for the trial of a Co Mayo farmer charged with the manslaughter of a Traveller two years ago.