Murder funeral crowd 'knew exactly what to do'

The nephew of a man murdered at a funeral in Sligo has told a jury that the 150-strong crowd that allegedly surrounded him and his father outside a cemetery was "well-organised. Every man in the crowd knew exactly what to do."

Mr Patrick "Jaws" Ward Jr (aged 30) has told the Central Criminal Court under cross examination that when he arrived with his wife and his father at the cemetery for a family funeral, they were met by a crowd of 150 McDonaghs

"When we got of the van, they were standing still and we kept walking," Mr "Jaws" Ward Jr said.

"My father shouted out to Bumbee Michael Hitler. He wanted to speak to him but Hitler didn’t answer," he said.

Mr "Jaws" Ward Jr said told the jury they were still advancing forward when the accused, Mr Michael "Bumbee Hitler" McDonagh Sr said: "Shoot them. Shoot them. Kill them."

Mr "Jaws" Ward Jr said under cross examination that he picked up a slash hook that was on the side of the road as he walked towards the assembled crowd of McDonaghs.

Five men have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Patrick "Deuce" Ward in May 1999 at Carrownanty Cemetery in Ballymote, Co Sligo.

Mr Michael "Hitler Bumbee" McDonagh Sr (aged 58), Mr Martin "Bumbee" McDonagh Sr (aged 53), Mr Michael McDonagh Jr (aged 29), Mr Patrick McDonagh (aged 33) and Mr Martin "Spider Bumbee" McDonagh Jr (aged 26) from Hertfordshire in London have all denied the murder of Mr Ward.

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, also Patrick Ward, in Ballymote, Co.Sligo on May 10 1999, when he was fatally shot.

The five have also pleaded not guilty to the possession of a firearm with the intent to endanger life.

They have also denied the attempted murder of Mr Patrick "Jaws" Ward Sr, Mr Patrick "Jaws" Ward Jr and Mr Edward "Ned" Ward on the same occasion.

The accused men also pleaded not guilty to causing violent disorder on the same date.

When asked under cross examination of Mr Michael "Bumbee Hitler" McDonagh Sr looked very like his cousin, Mr "Jaws" Ward Jr said: "The man I seen was Hitler. The man I heard roaring: 'Shoot them. Shoot them. Kill them,' was Hitler".

Mr "Jaws" Ward Jr was then asked by defence counsel, Mr Kavanagh SC for Mr Michael McDonagh Sr if his client also looked very like his brother, the accused Mr Martin "Bumbee" McDonagh Sr.

"They are completely different men altogether," Mr "Jaws" Ward Jr said.

Mr "Jaws" Ward Jr told the jury he has known Mr Michael McDonagh Sr as "Hitler" since he was "only young".

"He’s also known as Bumbee Michael as well as Hitler. I am sure he has other names also," Mr "Jaws" Ward Jr said.

The trial continues before Mr Iarfhlaith O’Neill.