People ‘foolish’ to use guns against burglars, hearing told

People who arm themselves against burglars are “foolish and ridiculous” and will only make victims of themselves and their families, the group running the nationwide community alert scheme has said.

Muintir na Tíre also expressed its opposition to following those acting suspiciously in a particular area and said those who armed themselves were inviting retribution and would be “looking over their shoulders” for the rest of their lives.

The group made its comments before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence.

It also said repeat burglars should not have an automatic entitlement to free legal aid even if they qualified for it when means tested.

Instead, the State should provide the free legal aid in the form of a loan that must be paid back, via social welfare payments if necessary.

Its appearance at the hearing was intended to mark the 30th anniversary of the scheme but comes as burglary rates and fear of rural crime increase.

A public meeting promoted by the Save Our Local Community group in Thurles, Co Tipperary, last month and attended by about 2,000 people heard many in rural areas were now sleeping with their shotguns.

Muintir na Tíre community alert development officer Diarmuid Cronin told this morning’s hearing that an armed response to crime or the fear of crime was not advisable.

“It is foolish to the point of being foolhardy,” he said.

“Individuals that pick up a gun thinking they are going to confront raiders on their property by firing a warning shot...

“They are going to create two victims; the guy that they fire at and themselves.

“A week later they’re going to be looking over their shoulder wondering when retribution is going to come.

“And what happens if the gangs fire back? What happens if the gangs begin to arm themselves? It leads to chaos.

“We have a policing record in this country since the foundation of the State where guns were not a factor. And there is no need for them to be introduce now.

“And for any farmer of householder to go out firing warning shots or whatever, is just pushing us to the point of the ridiculous,” he said.

Warning shots

However, he said there was a difference between “defending yourself and your family from imminent attack” and firing warning shots at suspects.

Mr Cronin also stressed most robberies were over before the victims realised anyone had been on their land or in their property, meaning the issue of using a gun to repel a raider did not arise.

“To have a situation where a guy is sitting armed and waiting reminds me of the Martin case in the UK,” he added.

In 1999 British farmed Tony Martin shot and killed a 16-year-old burglar and wounded another man at his home in Norfolk and was later convicted of murder after the court heard evidence he had previously expressed a hatred of criminals.

His conviction was later reduced to manslaughter. He was forced to live at secret address on his release for prison as he feared retribution.

Muintir na Tíre is a national voluntary organisation dedicated to promoting the process of community development. Its community alert system is aimed at promoting vigilance and sharing information on suspects with local communities and with the Garda.

Independent TD Finian McGrath said he was aware of one incident where a group of locals had followed people in their area after information about suspicious activity was circulated.

He believed this was dangerous because those being observed or followed may be armed to knives or guns.

Mr Cronin said his organisations community alert system did not encourage people to follow anybody.

“It is completely and utterly against our ethos,” he said.

“We are not a vigilante organisation and we will have no hand, act or part; we will not support or give any approval for any act like that.

“It is completely the opposite of what we repeat constantly at meetings; you must not get involved. You observe and you report,” he said.

He said people who take the law into their own hands are “creating a situation where they are putting themselves and their families in danger”.