Callan Ward appeals conviction for false imprisonment and demanding money with menaces in Tullamore
Callan Ward, a 32-year-old man from Tullamore, Co Offaly, was found guilty in June 2025 of false imprisonment, production of a baseball bat, and demanding money with menaces after luring John Murphy onto his motorbike at Kilcruttin Halting Site on 19 February 2022, where Murphy fell off and Ward demanded €500 while threatening him with a rusty bar and a steel baseball bat. Ward was sentenced to six years in prison. In October 2026, Ward's barristers told the Court of Appeal that Murphy and his wife Martina McCarthy-Murphy, who were declared hostile witnesses, had made unreliable statements while intoxicated, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy reserved his judgment on the appeal.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court22 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ward lured Murphy to ride on his motorbike, Murphy fell off, and Ward demanded €500 for alleged damage while threatening him and telling Murphy's wife she had 24 minutes to produce the money.
- Where
- The offences took place at Kilcruttin Halting Site, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
- When
- The offences took place on 19 February 2022 and lasted about 30 minutes.
- Weapon
- Ward used a rusty bar and a steel baseball bat that he asked his son to fetch.
- Charges
- Ward was found guilty of false imprisonment, production of a baseball bat, and demanding money with menaces.
- Sentence
- Ward was sentenced to six years in prison in June 2025.
- Other details
- Murphy had gone to the halting site to get heroin, and Ward has 20 previous convictions including rape.
- In court
- In October 2026, Ward's barristers argued at the Court of Appeal that Murphy's and his wife's garda statements were inherently unreliable as Murphy was intoxicated, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy reserved his judgment.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCallan Ward is 32 years old (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard lured Murphy to ride on his motorbike (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Murphy fell off Ward's motorcycle (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard demanded €500 for alleged damage to his motorcycle (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard told Murphy he would not leave the site alive unless he gave €500 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard told Murphy he would go nowhere unless he got the money (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard told Murphy's wife she had 24 minutes to get the money (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard said he was starting with the ankles (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard was holding the bat over his right shoulder (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThere were children around during the incident (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe incident lasted about 30 minutes (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWard told Murphy's wife she would be visiting him in Beaumont or a graveyard (irishmirror.ie)
- whereWard is from Kilcruttin Halting Site, Tullamore (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe offences took place at Kilcruttin Halting Site (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offences took place on 19 February 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponWard got a rusty bar (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponWard asked his son to go and get a steel baseball bat (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeWard was found guilty of false imprisonment, production of a baseball bat, and demanding money with menaces (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceWard was sentenced to six years in prison in June 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Murphy had gone to Kilcruttin Halting Site to get heroin (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Oct2026Rapist who threatened to break man's legs says victim's statement was unreliable
Court of Appeal hearing on Ward's appeal against conviction; barristers argued the victim's and his wife's garda statements were inherently unreliable and improperly admitted under section 16 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006; judgment reserved by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
convicted, Callan Ward, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Callan Wardvictim, John Murphy, male, irish (judged from name)John Murphyvictim, Martina McCarthy-Murphy, female, irish (judged from name)Martina McCarthy-Murphy