Govt votes down FG proposals on home defence rights

The Government has voted down Fine Gael proposals that would have given people greater rights to use violence against intruders in their homes.

The party had introduced a private members' bill in the Dáil that would allow people to take "reasonable" action when tackling a burglar.

On Tuesday night, Justice Minister Michael McDowell described the Fine Gael bill as over the top, but said he was willing to consider legislation that would give homeowners more rights to tackle intruders.

Last night, the Government parties voted down the Fine Gael proposals, prompting allegations from the opposition that they were putting political expediency before the rights of householders.

Fine Gael TD Jim O'Keefe said he couldn't believe why any reasonable person would reject the bill.