What Would You Do?

cork | crime and justice | opinion/analysis

Tuesday September 20, 2011 16:18

by PurpleHorizon

I recently witnessed a attack on a young lady ,who was walking home from a nightout.My friends intervened and she was perfectly fine,but it let me thinking what would I have done if I had witnessed the attack on my own!

What Would You Do?
So I was out in town last Sunday night and as is so common these days I found myself spending most of the night in the outside smoking area. It was pushing twelve and as these things go, the conversation was starting to laze. When suddenly one of the lads breaks the numbness ''What the bloody hell is going on there'' before I can realise where exactly there is. My mate was off, quickly followed by a couple more of the lads. Then I saw what the commotion was over. There was girl being attacked by a guy halfway down the street. My friends shouts cleared the assaulter, who had just knocked the girl to the ground. The lads checked on the young woman and helped her to her feet ,as the cool as a cucumber culprit trotted casually down the street, but then the Calvary was back in pursuit, after seeing that the girl was okay , attention turned to pursuing the thug .Yours truly who was lagging behind at this stage, turned to another mate, who had been equally slow on the uptake ''Should we go after him as well'' ''Eh I don't know'' ''Ah come on '' So we took off at an slightly accelerated jog. Like who knew the chase could be a marathon! But many others had joined our group and came bursting past us with all he bravery of people that knew the odds were stacked at 20/1 in favour pursuing posse! But sadly the chase was short .The thug had out sprinted us and had rounded the corner and Disappeared .Hiding with the expertise and craftiness of that bloke in the dodgy red and white sweater from the where’s wholly books (which I was never a fan of ,just leave the poor fellow come out of the closet ,when ever he feels comfortable)

Anyways the bad guy had escaped and I was left wheezy and with two questions in my head, firstly what exactly were we going to do if we had caught him? Secondly what would I have done if I had witnessed the attack on my own?
Would I have bravely come to the girl’s rescue? Could I alone be her saviour? Could I react in such haste that fear would be left behind! Well I think I would, but does anyone know how they will really react until their faced with such a situation. What if the poor girl was being attacked by a group of two or more? Would their numbers out weigh my bravery and if it didn’t, would that bravery be stupidity? I myself could possibly end up facing a worst faith than the original victim. This happens quite commonly, the third party comes out worst. Surely if somebody was being attacked by a group then maybe the best thing I could do would be to get help, call the gardaí. Also what if its a fight between a couple, could me intervening possibly make things worst and somehow add fuel to the fire!
The one thing I hope I wouldn't do is turn a blind eye, because you never know when that poor misfortunate could be you. I would surely hope that somebody would come to my rescue! Being honest one probably has to experience the situation first hand to know how they will react. Do you know how you would react?

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Comments (2 of 2)

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by newsmedia

Tue Sep 20, 2011 21:32

OK - several things come to mind in addition to calling the garda - which might not be so effective given the time lag.

Where the pursuers obviously outnumber the pursued, one move (if the situation deems it) is to carry out a citizen's arrest and take the troublemaker to the nearest garada station or gardai and inform them that you have made a citizen's arrest and why.

If you face such trouble alone and you are not trained in martial arts or self defence to such an extent that you are confident of handling things, it is foolish to intervene unless you can do so in a realistic way.

Snap a few discrete pictures if you can. Summon the garda and anyone else who might be in the vicinity for assistance (the latter not always workable).

better causes to die for than a drunken brawl outside a pub!

by GHead

Tue Sep 20, 2011 21:59

Events in mayo not too long ago where a young man was stabbed to death for intervening in a fight to break it up are rather sobering. These days there are a lot of people walking around carrying knives and who seem to have no boundaries. I'd be very careful about intervening in a fight without a few others to back you up. If you must intervene then do so verbally from a safe distance rather than engaging at close quarters. tell them the gards are on their way or something and have a clear escape route or something decent handy to defend yourself if it turns ugly. Running away is always best!! There are much better causes to die for than a drunken brawl!! If you are suicidal then might I recommend A bit of strategic Jihad in lenister house to reduce the government majority or at a meeting with church sex offenders instead perhaps? ;-)

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What Would You Do?

Comments (2 of 2)