A District Court Judge has apologised for comments he made during a sitting of Monaghan District Court this week.
In sentencing a 26-year-old man for robbery, Judge Sean McBride said that if he had a licensed shotgun he would 'blow the head off' anyone who came into his house.
He said people had 'no business going into private houses'.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties described the comments as 'outrageous'.
This evening Judge McBride apologised for his comments in a statement issued through the Courts Service.
He said he apologised for 'any offence or upset' that his words may have casued.
Judge McBride said he was trying to emphasise his 'revulsion at the violation of the safety of people's homes and of the sanctuary of their private space'.
He added that he was totally opposed to the use of guns and was against all forms of violence.
