Alleged victim of attempted murder says he thought he was going to die

by Alison O'Riordan

The alleged victim of an attempted murder has told the Central Criminal Court that he thought he was going to die when his sister's partner lifted a gun and pointed it at him outside his family home.

However, father-of-five Anthony McDonagh denied under cross-examination that he was mistaken when he identified the shooter as accused man Patrick Ward, or that "for some reason best known" to himself, he wanted the defendant to be "the man with the gun".

Two brothers are on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with trying to murder another pair of brothers living at an unofficial halting site in Tullamore last year.

In his opening address, prosecuting barrister, Kevin White SC, told the jurors that they will hear "just how lucky" the victims were that it was not a fatal shooting. He said the victims will tell the jury that they had known the men who allegedly shot them for years.

Patrick Ward (38) of Kilcruttin, Tullamore, is charged with attempting to murder Anthony McDonagh (40) at the unofficial halting site on March 21, 2025. John Pio Ward (42) also of Kilcruttin, is charged with the attempted murder of Michael McDonagh at the same location on the same date.

Last Friday, Anthony McDonagh described "locking eyes" with his alleged attacker before he was shot in the chest outside his home, telling the jury that he thought he, his wife and children were going to die.

Anthony McDonagh told Mr White that during the attack, "shots were going off everywhere" and up to 15 people from a neighbouring halting site had descended on the "unofficial" site where he lived with his family.

Continuing to give evidence today (Monday), Anthony said he thought his "life was ended" and that he was going to die, after the prosecutor asked him what was going through his mind when Patrick Ward lifted a gun and pointed it at him.

The witness said there was nothing obstructing his view of Patrick Ward at a point when the accused was up to three feet away from him. He said the light from his caravan was "very good" and that the street lights were on.

Anthony said he had known Patrick Ward for about 12 years, as the defendant was living with the witness' sister, and would speak to him "all the time".

Asked what his relationship was like with Patrick Ward at the time, the witness said it was good and that the two families were planning to go on holidays.

"Any falling out with 'Pa' Ward before this?" asked Mr White. The witness replied: "Me personally, no".

Anthony said his injuries included a shot wound to the chest and a broken nose, with pellets stuck in his cheekbone, neck and some of his organs. The witness said some of the pellets are still "embedded" in his body.

Asked how the event had affected him, the witness said he doesn't really sleep any more, that he is stressed all the time and that his life has been turned upside down.

The witness was then cross-examined by Damien Colgan SC, defending Patrick Ward, who put it to him that he was mistaken about identifying his client as shooting him that night. "No mistake," replied the witness.

"And for some reason best known to yourself you wanted Pa Ward to be the man with the gun?" asked the lawyer, to which Anthony replied: "No mistake, I'm 100 percent sure".

In cross-examination, Michael O'Higgins SC, for John Pio Ward, put it to Anthony that he had refused to make a statement to gardai at the hospital, saying he wanted "to get it right".

The witness said he was heavily medicated at the time and could not remember saying this to the gardai. Anthony said he made a statement to officers on April 8, 2025 but had no memory of previously refusing to make one.

When a photograph was shown to the witness of pellet marks on a fence, Mr O'Higgins put it to the witness that the man who had shot him couldn't see him and - "more importantly" - the witness couldn't see the shooter.

Anthony said this was wrong, as he wasn't behind a fence at the time he was shot.

Mr O'Higgins also put it to Anthony that one of the witnesses in the case will give evidence that he found pellets on green artificial grass between a timber fence and a mobile home in the unofficial halting site. "Might they have struck you in the chest and fallen to the ground?" asked counsel to which the witness replied that he, "wouldn't think so".

Both men face further charges of the possession of firearms and violent disorder, at Kilcruttin halting site on the same date. The two accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and five women.