Traveller describes Sligo funeral murder
A Traveller who was allegedly shot at by a gunman at a family funeral in Sligo has claimed the man "pulled out a gun from inside his pants" and fired, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Mr Edward Ward, known as Ned Ward, said a gunman fired at him and members of his extended family when he arrived at Ballymote cemetery for a funeral on May 10, 1999.
Mr Michael "Hitler Bumbee" McDonagh snr (aged 58), Mr Martin "Bumbee" McDonagh snr (aged 53), Mr Michael McDonagh jnr (aged 29), Mr Patrick McDonagh (aged 33) and Mr Martin "Spider Bumbee" McDonagh jnr (aged 26) from Hertfordshire in London have all denied the murder of Mr Patrick "Deuce" Ward.
The five also deny the attempted murder of Mr Patrick "Jaws" Ward snr, Mr Patrick "Jaws" Ward jnr and Mr Edward "Ned" Ward on the same date.
Mr "Deuce" Ward, (aged 38), a father of six originally from Galway but resident in Manchester had travelled to Ireland for the funeral of his uncle, in Ballymote, Co Sligo on May 10, 1999 when he was fatally shot.
Mr Ned Ward told the court he travelled to the funeral in a blue Vauxhall Cavalier car with six other members of his extended family.
There was a heavy garda presence around the graveyard for the funeral and Mr Ned Ward was stopped at a checkpoint near Tubbercurry.
While gardaí searched the saloon car for weapons, Ned Ward said he saw the deceased in a Transit van and his father-in-law "Jaws" Ward snr and his son in a Toyota Hiace van.
When he reached the cemetery, the father-of-six said he noticed the crowd was "hostile" and there was a large group of men throwing stones. One man he claims picked up a stone and threw it at him.
Shortly after Mr Ned Ward said he saw three men; the deceased, "Jaws" Ward snr and his son "running" away from the crowd of men. The same man who threw a stone at Ned Ward then "pulled out a gun from inside his pants" and fired.
Ned Ward said he turned and ran down the road towards his car. Putting the car into reverse, Ned Ward and his six family members drove backwards in the direction of "Jaws" Ward snr and the deceased.
"Jaws" Ward snr jumped onto the side of the car and "Deuce" Ward shouted "I’m shot, I’m shot". With all the seats in the car occupied the Ward family, Patrick "Deuce" Ward had to lie across the driver’s knees.
Ned Ward said he steered the car down the road as the driver couldn’t see where he was going. When they travelled further along the road, Ned Ward took over driving and went to Sligo Hospital with the deceased.
After leaving "Deuce" Ward at the hospital, Ned Ward turned around and proceeded to go back to Ballymote cemetery for the funeral of "Skillet" Ward.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill.
