An Irish businessman has been acquitted by a jury of all charges after running a burglar over with his Mercedes – the same thief who picked up $225,000 in compensation for the incident.
Martin McCaughey was cleared at Dundalk courthouse after he twice hit thief Daniel McCormack with his car and broke both his legs.
McCaughey woke up to find the burglar in his bedroom and chased him from the house. His wife and three children were with him in their home.
McCaughey had previously been sued by the burglar McCormack for the injuries he sustained in the incident outside the property developer’s house in the County Louth town and the burglar won a $225,000 judgement.
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The 48-year-old McCaughey was charged by police with assault causing harm and using his car as a weapon. He denied all charges.
Speaking to the media after the case, he said: “I have finally got justice.”
McCaughey told how he awoke at about 5.30am that morning to find the intruder coming out of his ensuite bathroom “looking at us with a screwdriver in his hand.”
“Imagine if I hadn’t been in the house and it was just my wife and three children. What would have happened? That still goes through my mind today. Would he have run?” Mr McCaughey said.
McCormack (27) was given a suspended jail sentence for the burglary and then sued McCaughey for over $225,000 compensation after he was left with broken legs following the incident.
The initial court case had heard McCormack confess: “I was trespassing and looking for things to steal.” Claiming he could remember little of the incident, he admitted that he took jewellery from the house and fled the scene when he heard shouting.
Police called to the scene found McCaughey’s car in the middle of the road. He was barefoot and just wearing boxer shorts. McCormack was on the ground with serious leg injuries.
The Dundalk jury took two and a half hours to clear McCaughey after Judge Gerard Griffin directed them to return a not guilty verdict on a second charge of endangerment.
Surrounded by friends and family outside the courthouse, McCaughey said: “It has been a long two years for me and my family. I’m glad it’s all over and want to get it behind us.
“I should never have been here in the first place. Unfortunately that is the system and they dragged me through the courts and I’ve got justice at the finish of it. I wouldn’t want to go through this ordeal again.”
Defending lawyer Brendan Grehan told the jury that his client ‘was not a vigilante’ and was not somebody out at night in his car patrolling for bad people, according to the Irish Independent.
Prosecuting counsel Kevin Segrave told the jury that McCaughey had used his car ‘as a weapon’, adding: ‘The law prevents us from being savages’.
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Read more:
More news from Ireland on IrishCentral
‘We’ll put a bullet in your brain’ - Irish politician Aodhan O Riordain receives racist hate mail
Top ten reasons why some Irish Americans have no real clue about Ireland
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.AMWilson | Feb 17, 2012, 08:12 PM EST
Sirpeter, this isn't an "us vs. them" chessmatch... it's ok to be self-critical. I don't think I've ever met an American who wasn't in some way critical of the US government or our justice system. This is obviously a black eye to the Irish system, because it sends the wrong message to the would-be Daniel McCormacks out there, especially with the economy being what it is. So whether we Americans have a plank in our hole or not, the Irish still have a problem on their hands with this kind of legal precedent.
jimmy12003 | Feb 17, 2012, 05:10 PM EST
hopfully in the next house he breaks into, they have a loaded gun by the bed and do the right thing a waste that piece of sh-it! just look at the picture! just looks like another knac-ker rat!!
GeorgeDillon | Feb 17, 2012, 07:21 AM EST
That guy has a surefire career waiting for him in Hollywood. Best monster since Boris Karloff. On another aspect, today's Irish newspaper details a case tried yesterday, in which a man was prosecuted for firing his shotgun INTO THE AIR as a warning to thugs attacking it. The Irish jury once again had common sense, and after a few minutes ruled Not Guilty. But my point is, in a country that's broke, where criminals act with impunity, what kinds of lunatics are running the Irish judicial system, be they prosecuting attorneys or judges? What a disgraceful waste of time and money to try to put an honest citizen in jail. And of course there will be no scrutiny or sanction of those who insisted on prosecuting this case. I am convinced that the current generation of ruling class in Ireland is the stupidest that country ever produced. The people are still good, but need leadership. They need to kick out the parasites and vermin.
IrelandNorth | Feb 17, 2012, 05:35 AM EST
If the accused was compensated for having his legs broken by the vigilantised victim in due to a neo-liberal Crimunal 'Justice' (?) System, how was he able to walk out of court on his two feet that were supposed to have be broken? Unless he was levitating. Can't tell by the photo.
ballindaggin | Feb 17, 2012, 04:11 AM EST
Thanks to our justice system, criminality is the only recession proof business in Ireland, it's true what they say,"only fools and horses".
warlocks | Feb 16, 2012, 11:28 PM EST
Good thing that Bloke didn't enter into my house.at night he would have been bured in a bough never to be found . lol
sirpeter | Feb 16, 2012, 10:14 PM EST
ciaradexy Quote"He should be beaten to death!Unquote.Chill out will ya please!!You're Irish.We'll leave mob justice to the Americans ok?They will use every every weakness you expose.They see the splinter in Irelands eye,but can't see their plank that is shoved up where the sun don't shine.
jimmybb | Feb 16, 2012, 09:51 PM EST
am thinkin half the judges in ireland an usa are senile an suffering from dementia as they become judges when they cant handlea lawyers job anymore this man was protecting his family first then his property
weldkatom1 | Feb 16, 2012, 08:37 PM EST
Its a joke,im going to rob a house now!!!
Murph46 | Feb 16, 2012, 08:12 PM EST
Gracie I doubt he has the mental capacity to sue-more likely brought about by his lawyer who has a financial interest! Goes on every day in the US.Shakespeare was right"First thing we do is kill all the lawyers"
johnshiel | Feb 16, 2012, 07:49 PM EST
a sane and fair legal system is valuable beyond words. ireland suffered many centuries from the lack of one. in the north that has continued up until recently? now??? I cna't say; you irish in the north can. but here's the deal: a crooked legal system is poisonous and ruinous and murderous, whether the bias is pro unionist, pro victim, or pro anything other than justice. one of the big trends here in U.S. is the pushback against excessive gun laws. criminals don't like this, because they aren't sure who's an easy mark anymore.
ProudCanadian | Feb 16, 2012, 06:52 PM EST
Who says crime doesn't pay.
Gracie1 | Feb 16, 2012, 06:22 PM EST
McCormack looks like a delightful fellow (tee-hee-hee). If I looked up in the night and saw that in my bedroom or my house, I'd definitely act first and ask questions later. He looks like a poster boy for Night Of The Living Dead. Certainly not likely to inspire affection or a sense of security in those around him. The fact he had the gall to sue for his injuries is disagusting in itself. That the courts permitted the charade and then awarded the cockroach money - disgusting beyond words.
Murph46 | Feb 16, 2012, 02:34 PM EST
Looks like a zombie from the Walking Dead!
AMWilson | Feb 16, 2012, 01:21 PM EST
Murph, that's funny - I was thinking the same thing. He certainly looks the part.
faberm1 | Feb 16, 2012, 01:06 PM EST
Send him on over here to Central Texas and let him try this foolishness in an international way. He'll burglar his first and last house right here. (And the jury will applaud his short life span.)
Murph46 | Feb 16, 2012, 12:40 PM EST
rainbowbrew does that mean we give him a pity party?
rainbowbrew | Feb 16, 2012, 12:24 PM EST
having his legs broken will probably cause problems in the future. I look forward to him being in a wheelchair soon as teh legs do not mend the same way as "original". He will be hurting in a few years.
Murph46 | Feb 16, 2012, 12:11 PM EST
That Mc Cormack, he's a handsome devil!
ceceann | Feb 16, 2012, 12:04 PM EST
I have to question the sanity of the prosecutor. The inmates must be running the asylum. The thief, McCormack, was given a suspended sentence and received compensation for committing this crime. Mr McCaughey had to neglect his business, stress over the outcome of this trial for two years and pay attorney's fees for the act of defending his home and property. He has been through hell and back. What took two hours of the jury's time? Duh! This was a no-brainer! The prosecutor should be fired for waste of taxpayer's funds and blaming the victim. This jerk calls the victim the savage? Justice would only be served if the prosecutor's home is next on McCormack's list and the prosecutor is then prosecuted for trying to defend his property.
AMWilson | Feb 16, 2012, 11:59 AM EST
Let's hope that that €175,000 is paid out at a rate of €10 per month. I can related to McCaughey: when I walked in on an intruder in my house, I was so shocked that I couldn't even think rationally. I just instinctively ran out after him, but it was all a very surreal, slow-motion experience. In hindsight, I could've gotten myself killed, but at the time, the only thought I had was that I couldn't let the guy get away. I did apprehend him without any injury to either of us, and he did do time.
ciaradexy | Feb 16, 2012, 11:51 AM EST
The only reason this animal got that money was because he was hit twice with a car. If he was attacked in the house he was robbing then he'd have gotten nothing! This man broke into the same mans house again a few months back but its looking like he's going to serve jail time for the second offence. He should be beaten to death!
Ms.Gail | Feb 16, 2012, 10:40 AM EST
A man who cares about his family is the kind of may that benefits society. A man that breaches the security of a family's home is the kind that DOES NOT benefit society. IMHO
Murph46 | Feb 16, 2012, 10:29 AM EST
He could get more than that if he spilled McDonalds hot coffee on his leg in America!
pugsmom | Feb 16, 2012, 10:22 AM EST
Sorry, Ireland.....your court system sounds as if it is becoming much too "Americanized;" blame and sue the victim. I guess the $225,000 wasn't nearly enough for the idiot McCormack, so he decided to try for more. If his lawyer didn't work pro bono, then McCormack will probably be out looking for his next "benefactor" as soon as he is "up and running" again. Congratulations, Mr. McCaughey.
Murph46 | Feb 16, 2012, 10:08 AM EST
Hey donal1951 in a pro gum state do they chew e'm to death and then blow them out in bubbles?Do you get a baseball card with each stick o' gum?
djdudley | Feb 16, 2012, 10:02 AM EST
Sorry donal1951, can't agree with ya on that one. Come through my door as a threat to my family, then there will be problems. Gotta protect my loved ones, just cuz criminal makes it out the door, it doesn't lessen what he did!!
SecretCelt | Feb 16, 2012, 09:57 AM EST
I see your point, Donal51. On the other hand, I'd be as PO'd, frightened, and out-of-my-mind as Mr. McCaughey was, under the circumstances. I'd call it a "crime of passion," and maybe that punk will think twice before he decides to burglarize again. Justice has been served, by my book, and I live in the US too...
pjmacmanus | Feb 16, 2012, 09:46 AM EST
I do not think that Mr. McCormack will try to steal for Mr. McCaughey's house again as he might fall on his screwdriver next time
muirisobric | Feb 16, 2012, 09:41 AM EST
Ah, the poor cratur. Sure he was only seeking shelter from the elements in that man's house & happened on some jewelery which wound up in his pocket. Geeeeeze, where's úr sense of decency. Would'nt ús have done the same. & then hurting the poor devil. What's the country come to. He broke his 2 legs. Imagine that. He shoulda broken his efin scull
donal1951 | Feb 16, 2012, 09:36 AM EST
Even in the most pro-gum states in the USA, it is illegal to cause bodily harm to a burlar once he has fled the scene. In other words, one may not chase the crook with a car or shoot him in the back with a gun. I am a strong self-defense advocate and would have the right to shoot anyone whom I did not know who broke into my locked home. But if they left, I would not give chase and would leave the matter to the police. Much as my sympathies are all with the driver of the Mercedes, I must side with prosecutor Kevin Segrave on this one.