The 'hero' who defended his family

Mr Dwyer gave a detailed account of the raid (Pic: Central News)

Two brothers have been jailed for life for murdering an elderly woman.

Bernard Dwyer, another victim, told the trial what happened when the gang - who had just killed Helen Chung - raided his home and began threatening him, his son and daughter.

I was woken by the sound of men running up the stairs and a scream of 'Dad'.

I'd never heard a scream like it before. I knew there was something seriously wrong. I jumped out of my bed and started to run towards her room.

These men appeared. They shouted 'Get on the floor...you bastard, or we'll kill you. I obeyed.

But I did get quite a few blows at that point. I felt that one of these guys was particularly nasty - he kept bashing me even though I was compliant.

I thought, well, if I'm going to die tonight then I'd rather die like a man than a dog Bernard Dwyer

I have seen things in television and I have seen violent stuff before but I have never seen this level of violence, not even in those action movies in Vietnam.

It was above and beyond the call of duty. I was compliant and they beat me.

I probably lost consciousness for a few seconds.

When I woke up I felt invigorated.

I was recovering and getting my senses about me. One of them, who was jittery, held a knife at my daughter's throat.

I believed he would cut it. She did extraordinarily well - she stood there, she didn't scream, she didn't cry, kept as calm as she could.

I thought, well, if I'm going to die tonight then I'd rather die like a man than a dog.

I am on the floor looking up at her coming into the room. They were saying 'I'm going to cut your...daughter'.

I very quickly and very wisely assessed the situation. I read the situation very very well.

'Stabbed me'

I thought 'these bastards are completely out of control', from how they behaved up to that point.

They'd been beating the living daylights out of me for nothing so we are all going to die anyway.

I think, well, if I can knock the gun so the bullet goes into the wall, I'll come up and bash him.

I was also wearing a ring that night with a one-carat diamond on it so I knew he'd get some kind of purchase off that.

I am giving him plenty of this (gesticulates as if punching). I am quite amazed that he took as much punishment as he did. He took a fair few shots.

I took the gun and cracked it across the knuckleduster guy Bernard Dwyer

One of them stabbed me but I held the bedroom door shut.

They are starting to push their way in so we have another bit of fisticuffs but I am doing most of it this time. I am in charge of this battle.

I decided to let them use their own strength against them, so let the door in and then 'bam', have a go again. I believe I put down the little fellow. I can punch, I used to practise years ago.

Then I grabbed the gun.

I've never used a weapon before in my life and it was a great feeling actually. I took the gun and cracked it across the knuckleduster guy. I gave him a good bash.

The next thing is they took off and I chased them down the stairs and I managed to give one a bash on the head with the gun as he was going down the stairs. I broke the handle of it on his head.

They ran down the stairs and got in their car.