Heavy price to pay for a split-second decision

I FEEL sorry for Dean Kerrie, who was only 17 years old when he was woken from his sleep by an intruder throwing a rock through his window. Attacked to the point where he lost consciousness, the youngster had only a split second to decide between protecting himself and his mother or cowering under his bed when he came to. His other options included dialling 999 (even though there might be no answer) and praying the intruder would slink off peacefully.

The judge said that he wasn’t convinced Dean simply had a knife to hand when he snapped into action. Perhaps the youngster, who is now 21 and has been jailed for three-and a-half years for manslaughter, forgot about dashing into the kitchen in a panic for it. Jack Power had already assaulted Dean and his mother. Were they to wait until he finished them off completely?

Tragically, Dean went too far, and Mr Power died outside the house. Dean called the gardaí, who found him sobbing in the kitchen. He had been a hothead, he hadn’t known his own strength but there was no doubt he was remorseful.

The law allows us use reasonable force to protect ourselves and our property from intruders, but most of us are complete amateurs about self-defence. It’s the luck of the draw what injuries we inflict, or don’t as is the more likely scenario.

Dean Kerrie’s sentence will make us think again if we are unlucky enough to be broken into in the dead of night.

Rather than risk a prison sentence for defending ourselves, we might just dial 999. And pray that the call when picked up, is not dropped.