Home owner injures thief ...then takes him to A&E

A SUSPECTED burglar was attacked with a weapon – then brought to hospital by the homeowner who’d disturbed him trying to rob his property.

The incident happened in the Fettercairn area of Tallaght, Dublin, on Sunday morning.

At around 2am, a man woke after hearing a noise. After searching the area, he discovered a man in his back garden. The owner of the house confronted the would-be burglar.

The intruder threatened him, claiming there were others who were going to attack him.

The house owner got a weapon and struck the burglar on the leg, seriously injuring him.

Realising the seriousness of the injury, he took the injured man to Tallaght Hospital. One source told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘What appears to have happened is the man had gone to bed and had heard someone in the house. He let out a shout and heard more shuffling of feet and then a door opening.

‘He went out to his back garden and found a man there and there was an argument. I think every right-minded person would be very angry to find someone trying to break into their home.

‘The man who was accused of breaking in then started to get a bit shirty, saying that there were other lads out the front waiting on him and this was seen as being sort of threatening behaviour.

‘The man then took out a weapon, gardaí aren’t saying exactly what this was now, but he gave him a hiding around the legs.’

The intruder has since had surgery on his leg. He has not yet made a statement of complaint to gardaí in relation to the incident.

Gardaí confirmed they are investigating an ‘alleged assault’ in the Fettercairn area of Tallaght.

Sources said the home owner will not be in legal danger as the law allows reasonable force when someone breaks into your property.

Under the Criminal Law (Defence and Dwelling) Act 2011, a person is allowed to use reasonable force defending their home in order to protect themselves and their property. That legislation was drafted following the death of John Ward, who was shot by farmer Pádraig Nally in Co. Mayo in 2004.

Mr Nally was cleared of murder but, initially, found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to six years. However, he was retried for manslaughter and fully acquitted.

Got a weapon and struck burglar