Ireland Case No. 5587Murder · Co. Dublin · 1 Mar 2019
Man fails appeal against murder conviction in Dublin
Alan Ward, 56, stabbed his wife Catherine Doyle, 41, to death at their home in Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on 1 March 2019, and also threatened to kill and attempted to stab his son Adam Ward. Ward was convicted of murder and sentenced to life, with concurrent sentences for the offences against his son. He argued diminished responsibility due to a 2017 stroke, but the prosecution expert was not satisfied the brain injury was sufficient. On 27 June 2024, the Court of Appeal in Dublin rejected his appeal against the murder conviction.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court28 Feb
2 reports - Convicted27 Jun
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Alan Ward stabbed his wife Catherine Doyle to death at their home at Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on 1 March 2019.
- Ward threatened to kill and attempted to stab his son Adam Ward on the same date.
- When
- The murder occurred on 1 March 2019.
- Where
- The killing took place at the couple's home at Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
- Weapon
- Ward used a knife to stab his wife and attempted to slash his son.
- Cause
- Ward argued his responsibility was diminished by a mental disorder following a stroke he suffered in 2017.
- Investigation
- Gardaí were called to the couple's home to respond to domestic disputes five times over the years.
- Charges
- Ward was convicted of murder and of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his son and of attempting to stab him.
- In court
- The Court of Appeal in Dublin rejected Ward's appeal against his murder conviction on 27 June 2024.
- Sentence
- Ward was sentenced to life for the murder, with five years and three years for the offences against his son, each running concurrently.
- Other details
- Ward had a 2002 conviction for assaulting his wife causing her harm and a history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse.
- Ward had previously stabbed a neighbour in the neck with a Samurai sword during a fight in Tallaght.
37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAlan Ward stabbed his wife Catherine Doyle to death at their home at Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on 1 March 2019. (kildarenow.com)
- whatWard denied the murder, arguing his responsibility was diminished due to a mental disorder brought on by a stroke he suffered two years earlier. (kildarenow.com)
- whatDr Smith said he was not satisfied that the brain injury caused by a stroke in 2017 was sufficient to diminish Ward's responsibility. (kildarenow.com)
- whatDr O'Connell said it was up to the jury to decide if Ward should be found to have diminished responsibility and would not offer his own opinion. (kildarenow.com)
- whatCondon stated that Ward beat up his wife in 2002 and then beat her up and killed her in 2022, and that the stroke in 2017 came after the 2002 assault. (kildarenow.com)
- whatAdam Ward told the jury he emerged from his room after hearing a bang and saw his father in the doorway of the parents' bedroom striking downwards. (kildarenow.com)
- whatWard told Adam to get away or he would kill him, swiped at him with the blade and lunged towards him. (kildarenow.com)
- whatWard was convicted in 2002 of assaulting his wife causing her harm. (kildarenow.com)
- whatGardaí were called to the couple's home to respond to domestic disputes five times over the years. (kildarenow.com)
- whatWhen living in Tallaght, Ward got into a fight with a neighbour and stabbed him in the neck with a Samurai sword. (kildarenow.com)
- whatIn 2017, Adam said his father had a stroke which affected his speech and required him to attend classes to learn how to talk. (kildarenow.com)
- whatThe jury convicted Ward of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his son Adam Ward and of attempting to stab him on the same date. (kildarenow.com)
- whatAlan Ward murdered Catherine Doyle. (rte.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at the couple's home in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. (rte.ie)
- whereThe murder happened at the couple's home at Greenfort Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing happened on 1 March 2019. (rte.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on 1 March 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeWard argued his responsibility was diminished by a mental disorder following a stroke. (rte.ie)
- causeWard argued his responsibility was diminished by a mental disorder caused by a stroke. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponWard attempted to slash his son with a knife and threatened to kill him. (rte.ie)
- courtThe appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal in Dublin on 28 February 2024. (kildarenow.com)
- courtBernard Condon SC for the State said there was no prohibition on expert witnesses giving evidence on diminished responsibility. (kildarenow.com)
- courtMs Justice Isobel Kennedy said the three-judge court would reserve judgment in the matter. (kildarenow.com)
- courtWard failed in his bid to overturn his murder conviction at the Court of Appeal. (rte.ie)
- courtThe three-judge court refused Ward's application to adjourn. (rte.ie)
- courtThe court rejected three further grounds of appeal. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtAlan Ward failed to overturn his murder conviction at the Court of Appeal. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe three-judge court refused Ward's application to adjourn the appeal. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe court rejected the expert-evidence argument made by Ward's legal team. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtWard was convicted of threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his son Adam and of attempting to stab him. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA violent domestic abuser failed in a bid to overturn his conviction for his wife's murder. (extra.ie)
- sentenceMr Justice Hunt sentenced Ward to five years and three years respectively for the offences against Adam Ward, with each sentence to run concurrently to the life sentence. (kildarenow.com)
- sentenceAlan Ward was sentenced to life for the murder of his wife Catherine Doyle. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWard had a long history of violence towards his wife and others before his stroke. (rte.ie)
- otherThe court rejected Ward's argument about the prosecution expert's evidence. (rte.ie)
- otherGardaí were called to the couple's home about domestic disputes five times over the years. (rte.ie)
- otherWard had a history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Jun2024Violent domestic abuser fails in bid to overthrow conviction for wife's murder
The article body is unrendered page template code. The only substantive content is the headline. It gives no date, place, names or court details, and the Irish location is inferred from the extra.ie outlet.
convicted - 27 Jun2024Husband who murdered wife and tried to stab son learns fate in bid for freedom
Reports the Court of Appeal's judgment rejecting Alan Ward's appeal against his murder conviction, including the court's refusal of an adjournment and its rejection of three further grounds of appeal.
convicted, Alan Ward, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Wardvictim, Catherine Doyle, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine Doylevictim, Adam Ward, male, irish (judged from name)Adam Ward - 27 Jun2024Man fails in bid to overturn conviction for wife's murder
Reports that the Court of Appeal rejected Ward's appeal against his murder conviction, with details of the grounds of appeal and the trial evidence on diminished responsibility.
convicted, Alan Ward, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Wardvictim, Catherine Doyle, 41, irish (judged from name)Catherine Doylevictim, AdamAdam - 28 Feb2024Dublin domestic abuser who murdered his wife appeals conviction over comments made by expert psychiatrist
Reports the hearing of Ward's appeal at the Court of Appeal on 28 February 2024, where his counsel argued the prosecution psychiatrist Dr Damian Smith improperly opined on the ultimate issue of diminished responsibility by referencing Ward's history of violence. The State's counsel Bernard Condon SC argued there was no prohibition on such evidence. The court reserved judgment.
victim, Catherine Doyle, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Catherine Doylevictim, Adam Ward, male, irish (judged from name)Adam Wardconvicted, Alan Ward, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Ward