Brothers acquitted of attempted murder at halting site in Tullamore
by Alison O'Riordan and Ryan Dunne
Two brothers have been found not guilty of trying to murder another pair of brothers during an attack at an unofficial halting site in Co Offaly last year, during which there was "pandemonium", with shots fired and children forced to search for cover.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court rejected the evidence of victim Anthony McDonagh, who described "locking eyes" with Patrick 'Pa' Ward (38) before the accused man shot him in the chest outside his home.
They also rejected the evidence of father-of-eight Michael McDonagh, who told the trial he was "100 percent" that the second accused, John Pio Ward (42), shot him in the chest.
Defence witness Eileen McDonagh said she was "devastated" when she found out her two brothers - Anthony and Michael - had been shot, but she told the Central Criminal Court that her partner Patrick 'Pa' Ward "didn't do it".
The panel of seven men and five women deliberated for four hours and twenty minutes before delivering their majority verdicts today (Thursday) in the trial of the Ward brothers. The jury was initially told that they had to be unanimous in their verdicts, but after deliberating for just over four hours, Mr Justice Paul McDermott told them that he would accept a majority verdict.
Patrick Ward, of Kilcruttin, Tullamore, was charged with attempting to murder father of five Anthony McDonagh (40) at the unofficial halting site on March 21, 2025. John Pio Ward, also of Kilcruttin, was charged with the attempted murder of Michael McDonagh (46) at the same location on the same date.
Both accused men faced further charges of the possession of firearms and violent disorder, at Kilcruttin halting site on the same date.
The two defendants, who had denied all of the charges, were today found not guilty on all counts.
After the jury delivered their verdicts, Mr Justice McDermott thanked them for their patience and attendance during the trial and excused them from jury service for five years. He discharged the two accused men, ending the three-week trial.