I’m here now until I go to the grave: Nally

PADRAIG NALLY says he won’t ever feel secure in his home again, but has vowed to stay there until he “goes into the grave”.

Last Thursday Mr Nally, 62, was acquitted at the Central Criminal Court of the manslaughter of Traveller, John ‘Frog’ Ward, at Mr Nally’s isolated Co Mayo farm in October 2004.

Last week’s trial was told that Mr Nally was “out of his mind with fear” when he found father-of-11 Mr Ward at the back of his cottage.

Mr Nally said that despite being released from custody he won’t be looking forward to Christmas and has developed a heart problem because of the affair.

“I have a worried mind,” said Mr Nally.

“I’m lucky I had a shotgun in the shed that day. I would have been found dead otherwise. I have a heart problem which was brought on by all of this, and I will be on medication for the rest of my life.

“I’m here now until I go to the grave,” he added.

“Everyone has their worries; I suppose that’s how life goes.”

Mr Nally also said he will get involved if legislators want to talk to him in connection with new trespassing laws.

During his two years in prison, neighbours and friends tended to his livestock.

The local community rallied around Mr Nally and some helped campaign for his release from prison.

During last week’s trial one neighbour, Michael Varley, said Mr Nally had called to his house on the afternoon of October 14 to call the gardaí.

He told the court that Mr Nally told him he had been “forced to fight for his life”.