‘Shoot-to-kill’ remarks - Urgent need to retrain our judiciary

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.

Setting an example that other home-owners would be ill-advised to follow, the judge declared at a sitting of Monaghan District Court that if he had a licensed shotgun he would blow the head off anyone who came into his house.

While many people up and down the country will undoubtedly empathise with these sentiments, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties was absolutely right to condemn such comments. Like it or not, Judge McBride was setting an appalling example for which he since apologised. Among other provisions, the new Criminal Law (Defence of Life and Property) Bill removes the requirement on occupiers to retreat in the face of a criminal trespasser before using force.