LAUREN McCourt is perfectly entitled to her views about Tony Martin, the farmer who shot at two compulsive burglars who had consistently broken into his property and terrorised him (Letters, June 14), but she is wrong.

We all have the right to defend our properties and, because burglars have the right to break in and desecrate our private belongings and cause havoc, surely we have rights too.

Tony Martin has always, and will always, have my sympathy for his stand against infiltrators.

Bryan R Lawson,

Burton Fields Road,

Stamford Bridge,

York.

Updated: 10:41 Saturday, June 18, 2005