Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0073False imprisonment, production of a baseball bat, demanding money with menaces · Co. Offaly · 19 Feb 2022

Offaly man appeals false imprisonment conviction at Court of Appeal

On 19 February 2022, Callan Ward lured John Murphy to ride on his motorbike at Kilcruttin Halting Site, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, and when Murphy fell off, Ward demanded €500 for alleged damage, held him against his will, and threatened to break his legs with a steel baseball bat. Ward also phoned Murphy's wife, Martina McCarthy-Murphy, telling her she had 24 minutes to produce the money or her husband would end up in Beaumont hospital or a graveyard. Ward was found guilty in his absence of false imprisonment, production of a baseball bat, and demanding money with menaces, and was sentenced to six years at Tullamore Circuit Court in June 2025. He is now appealing his conviction at the Court of Appeal, where judgment was reserved in October 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court22 Oct
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Jun
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • On 19 February 2022, Callan Ward lured John Murphy to ride on his motorbike at Kilcruttin Halting Site, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, and when Murphy fell off, Ward demanded €500 for alleged damage and held Murphy against his will for about 30 minutes.
  • Ward threatened to break Murphy's legs with a steel baseball bat, told him he would not leave the site alive unless he paid, and phoned Murphy's wife Martina McCarthy-Murphy telling her 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.
Weapon
Ward asked his son to fetch a steel baseball bat during the incident.
Charges
Ward was found guilty of false imprisonment, production of a baseball bat, and demanding money with menaces.
In court
  • Ward was found guilty in his absence after leaving a five-day trial at Tullamore Circuit Court.
  • Ward is appealing his conviction at the Court of Appeal, where barristers argued the victim's and his wife's garda statements were inherently unreliable; judgment was reserved by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy in October 2026.
Sentence
In June 2025, Judge Keenan Johnson sentenced Ward to six years' imprisonment, activated a two-year sentence previously imposed, suspended the final year of that activated sentence for three years, and backdated the sentence to 14 February.
Other details
  • Gardaí issued a public appeal on Crimecall on 16 December 2024 to locate Ward, whose last known address was in the Kilcruttin area of Tullamore.
  • No physical injuries were caused to Murphy, and Murphy attempted to withdraw his complaint against Ward.
  • Reports give Ward's age as 30, 31, or 32; Gardaí seized approximately €5,500 in cash from his property, and the court ordered €500 of it be given to the victim.
48 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí have appealed publicly for help to locate Callan Ward, described as a wanted man. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatCallan Ward was jailed for six years after Tullamore Circuit Court heard he demanded money from another man and threatened to break his legs with a steel bat. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatWard asked the victim to ride his motorbike, and when the victim fell off, Ward demanded €500 for alleged damage. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatWard held John Murphy against his will. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • 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's last known address is in the Kilcruttin area of Tullamore, Co. Offaly. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offences took place at Kilcruttin Halting Site. (offalyexpress.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe false imprisonment happened at Kilcruttin halting site. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereWard is from Kilcruttin Halting Site, Tullamore (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe appeal was made on the Crimecall episode of 16 December. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place on 19 February 2022. (offalyexpress.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • causeWard demanded €500 from Murphy. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponWard asked his son to get a steel baseball bat during the incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • weaponWard got a rusty bar (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponWard asked his son to go and get a steel baseball bat (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeWard threatened to kneecap Murphy with a steel baseball bat. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeWard was found guilty of false imprisonment, production of a baseball bat, and demanding money with menaces (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtWard had left the five-day trial and was found guilty in his absence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing hearing took place at Tullamore Circuit Court before Judge Keenan Johnson. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge reduced the sentence to six years with mitigation and activated a two-year sentence previously imposed on Ward. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended the final year of the activated sentence for three years. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe six-year sentence was backdated to 14 February, when Ward went into custody. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe court ordered that €500 of the seized money be given to the victim, with the rest going to Ward's wife. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceWard must keep the peace and have no contact with the victim. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceCallan Ward was jailed for the false imprisonment of another man. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceWard was sentenced to six years in prison in June 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherWard is also known to frequently visit the UK. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherWard is 30 years old, about 5 foot 8 inches tall, with fair hair and blue eyes. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe victim, John Murphy, had gone to the halting site to get heroin. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí seized €3,500, €1,000 and about another €1,000 in cash from Ward's property. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherWard told Murphy's wife by phone that her husband would be in Beaumont hospital or a graveyard unless the money was paid. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherNo physical injuries were caused to Murphy. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMurphy attempted to withdraw his complaint against the accused. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherLetters of support were written by Ward's wife, his oldest son, and a representative of a football team set up under the Offaly Traveller Movement. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherDefence barrister Blaise O'Carroll SC referred to Brehon law in mitigation. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherJudge Johnson said mercy seemed very absent from the offence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherMr Murphy had gone to Kilcruttin Halting Site to get heroin (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Oct2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Rapist 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
  2. 13 Jun2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    'Echoes of Brehon law' in case of Offaly man guilty of false imprisonment

    Reports the sentencing hearing at Tullamore Circuit Court, where Ward was jailed by Judge Keenan Johnson. The article does not state the sentence length or the incident date. It adds the defence plea of mitigation, letters of support, and that no physical injuries were caused.

    convicted, Callan Ward, named, irish (judged from name)Callan Wardvictim, John Murphy, irish (judged from name)John Murphy
  3. 13 Jun2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    Six years in jail after court hears of threat to 'kneecap' Offaly man

    Reports the sentencing: six years' imprisonment, with a two-year sentence activated and the final year suspended, plus orders on seized cash and a no-contact condition.

    convicted, Callan Ward, 31, 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
  4. 20 Dec2024
    Otheroffalyexpress.ie, follow-up
    WANTED : Gardaí issue TV appeal for wanted Offaly man

    Adds that gardaí appealed on Crimecall on 16 December 2024 for Callan Ward, who is wanted, with a last known address in Kilcruttin, Tullamore, and frequent visits to the UK. It does not give the offence or any court details.

    suspect, Callan Ward, 30, male, named, irish (judged from name)Callan Ward