Half an hour ago the power in the town goes, leaving the housing estate I live in (pretty much in the country) in complete darkness. Doing what we usually do in a blackout situation, we locked all the windows and doors and set up candles around the house so we had some light. 

 

All of a sudden we hear banging against the door, and some utter scumbag is there walking through our house demanding we give him all of our stuff and he would "leave us alive". My father being in the house ran toward this idiot with me following close after. My father grabs the chap and I, using a basic elbow strike, floor the chap. My father held him pinned to the ground while my mother phoned the Garda Síochána (police). 

 

They arrived about 5 minutes after the power came back, took the chap away without any stern word said, then asked who hit him. I told the Garda what happened, and now I'm the one being bollocked for defending myself in my own home. And I'm here wondering why the hell I'm the one in trouble. The more I live in this country the more I want to leave it.

 

/rant.

wow the guards there sound like idiots....You should all move to the USA, Massachusetts, Westfield Area....Here atleast the police "guards" are not so leniant with the bad guys and you wouldn't get in any trouble for defending yourself and I would be able to meet you....LOL   I have not met anyone from here nor am I likely to unless I can convince you all to move to massachusetts, westfield....heck we could change the name of the city and call it "Rand Land" or "Dragonmount" or "Tar Valon", etc..

Hoping to be in Canada in a few years but I appriciate the offer lol

Far out, that's messed up... hope you get out of that by rights

 

*shakes head*

 

I can totally get what you mean, why is police so ineffectual in rural areas? Our officers are hunting buddies with the POACHERS! >.<

Nya, why in the light are your officers hunting buddies with THEM? *also shakes head*

Depending on your stature, they may think greater than reasonable force was used. You did say your father grabbed him - should that of be the end of it there, no need for a strike (in hindsight)?

Based on the words he had uttered, I'd say they had a reasonable basis of being in fear for their lives.  I'm taking it you don't have anything like the "Castle Doctrine" there, wolfbro?

 

If someone were to break into our house and utter those words, there's a good chance he would have either 9mm or .762x25 holes in him (well, as soon as I get my PPS-43 back from the shop) when law enforcement arrived . . .  Here in Florida, we have "Stand your ground" laws and you can bet that, in my own house, I will stand my ground.  

I have no idea what the "Castle Doctrine" is

nah the castle doctrine doesnt wash here. Few years back a chap was burglaring a house, he ended up slipping and cutting himself on a nail in one of the floorboards. he brought the homeowner to court and won

If the dude broke into my house he'd take a bokken to the face. Law in england is reasonable force is allowed, but if your life is being threatened, I can make a pretty good argument for whats reasonable.

 

As a side note, sounds like the area in general is pretty crappy. People taking advantage of a blackout...well, it might have worked years ago, but in the days of mobile phones its not too smart.

It was the chap's own fault he slipped and cut himself on a nail. He should have been more careful

That's just stupid. As far as I'm concerned using a gun in return is excessive force, and you are not likely to be facing a gunman in Aus. I hope. We;ve got danged strict gun-laws. I haven't heard anything bad about our police, just about the government. That sucks mate.

I haven't heard anything bad about our police, just about the government.

 

In all honesty, I don't think I've ever heard of a single country where people don't (at least casually) complain about the government. You don't have much to worry about there.

I can never understand why they call it "civilised" when the rights of criminals take precedence over the rights of their victims. Makes you wonder about the people who push for that.

I can also never understand why criminals get treated better than their victims in some countries

Depending on your stature, they may think greater than reasonable force was used. You did say your father grabbed him - should that of be the end of it there, no need for a strike (in hindsight)?

 

 

We could have killed him here.  I would have.  He threatened their lives.

Ha you here stories like that here all the time and its not just in rural areas either. its a joke!

 

Depending on your stature, they may think greater than reasonable force was used. You did say your father grabbed him - should that of be the end of it there, no need for a strike (in hindsight)?

 

 

We could have killed him here.  I would have.  He threatened their lives.

 

 

Which is exactly why I provided the context of hindsight given the issues now faced.

The context of the moment, the context of hindsight are extremely different.

I merely raised a possibility for the alternative view.

 

All our suggestions of any of us saying if it were here or we could do this there are out of context.

Arguably so is mine, as I do not know the laws and cultural norms in Ireland.

I have no idea what the laws and cultural norms are in Ireland

Its a good thing that chap didn't get into my house. My husband would have had him unconscious before calling the police. 

 

I can understand why you would be frustrated. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depending on your stature, they may think greater than reasonable force was used. You did say your father grabbed him - should that of be the end of it there, no need for a strike (in hindsight)?

We could have killed him here. I would have. He threatened their lives.

Which is exactly why I provided the context of hindsight given the issues now faced.

The context of the moment, the context of hindsight are extremely different.

I merely raised a possibility for the alternative view.

 

All our suggestions of any of us saying if it were here or we could do this there are out of context.

Arguably so is mine, as I do not know the laws and cultural norms in Ireland.

That is why I said "here." My husband is in law enforcement. I know how to shoot. He would have been dead in my home.

 

Perhaps it is because we are more at risk???

Wolfbro, it sounds like you need to move to Texas.

Having lived in Texas virtually all my life, I could reasonably say that this event wouldn't have been an issue with the authorities had it occurred to a person living here. ;)

I haven't been in Texas my whole life, but yes, what Chang said. *nods*

But it's hot in Texas. in Ireland we're lucky if we see the sun 1 day in 7 :P