Mayo Farmer found Guilty

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Ireland.com wrote:

Mayo farmer found guilty of manslaughter of Traveller
Last updated: 20-07-05, 15:12

A Co Mayo farmer who shot dead a member of the Travelling community on his property has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Padraig Nally (61), denied the murder of John Ward (42), at his 65-acre farm in Cross, Co Mayo, last year.

At the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar, the jury of seven women and five men took two hours and ten minutes to deliver their verdict.

The courthouse was packed with relatives of Mr Ward, who was the father of 11 children, and neighbours of Nally.

Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded Nally on continuing bail and set November 11th as the date for sentencing at the court.

Yesterday was the fifth day of the trial which is being held in Castlebar courthouse and is the first murder hearing at the Co Mayo venue.

The jury was told by Ms Justice Carney yesterday that it could either return a verdict of guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

In his closing submission, Paul O'Higgins SC, prosecuting said it was the State's case that Nally used more force than was reasonably necessary to defend himself.

He had won his fight, it was over. The law did not allow someone to kill someone else because they might come along later and kill them.

Noel Grehan SC, defending, told the jury that a decision had been made by the trial judge about the verdicts it could return.

Mr Grehan said Nally had a grievance and dislike of Travellers. "Pádraig Nally did not go looking for trouble but trouble came looking for him," he said.

Mr Grehan said that Nally was a law-abiding, upstanding member of the community, who did not after 60 years become a murderer. He had acted in self-defence and was provoked.

The defence was not arguing insanity.

I hope this chap gets a suspended sentence. I can't post my opinions right now, but you can be sure I will later. If he does a day inside it's a joke, but wouldn't surprise me the way the justice system works in this country sometimes.

walshb

The guy shot a man twice and beat him with a stick close to 25 times and you think a suspended sentence is in order. They found him guilty of manslaughter, not an acquittal on the basis of self defence. So they agreed that he killed the man. Where did they get manslaughter from...it's a disgrace. If he had of shot the guy once, called an ambulance and tried saving him...I'd say OK....But two shots and 20-25 smacks to the head and his body dumped to lay dying....that's MURDER in my opinion.....

Culchie

The fellah who was shot was a scumbag who robs old people and is suspected of murder of an OAP as well.

He got what he deserved.

walshb

Yeh you are probably right Culchie, maybe we should all become Vigilantes and do as we please.............Sure we'll never know exactly he was like will we. Mr Nally saw to that,.....

Culchie

Thanks I know I'm right. It sends out a stronger message to these scum than 6 months suspended sentence in prison.

Less politically correct in this increasing nanny state, but more effective ...they might get the message.

Your friend Mr Ward is well known around the West of Ireland and if he and his family pulled up their caravans outside your house, I'm sure you'd soon got on the phone to your local TD.

walshb

Culchie wrote:

Your friend Mr Ward is well known around the West of Ireland and if he and his family pulled up their caravans outside your house, I'm sure you'd soon got on the phone to your local TD.

That's just my point Culchie, I'd go down the morally and legally correct route if I had a problem. There is absolute no justification for what Nally did unless the mans life was in grave danger, and from what I know of the case...it certainly was not. Like I said, he didn't just shoot once, he pursued the man and made damn sure he killed him. Then dumps the body and says nothing. What else do you need him to do to another human being before you would call his actions unjustified.....