Ireland Crime

Named as

Accused

Born

Between September 1997 and March 1998, from the ages reported

Offences

Violent disorder, Production of a knife, Production of a slash hook, Criminal damage, Discharge of a firearm

Where

Co. Offaly

Reporting

4 reports, 31 Mar 2025 to 16 Sep 2025

Outlets

offalyexpress.ie

• Three men sent for trial over violent disorder at Tullamore Hospital Violent disorder · Co. Offaly

  Four men from Kilcruttin halting site, Tullamore, are accused of violent disorder at Tullamore Hospital on 21 March 2024 (reported as 2025 in one account), with Michael Ward (30) and Sean Ward (25) also accused of producing a knife and Sean Ward further accused of producing a slash hook and causing criminal damage to Arthur McDonagh's (21) caravan. The four men appeared separately by video link from prison at Tullamore District Court in late March 2025 and were remanded in custody with consent to bail to 9 April. In September 2025, three of the men, Michael Ward, Richard Ward (27) and Sean Ward, were remanded on bail by Judge Andrew Cody and sent for trial to Tullamore Circuit Court on 7 October. The men were represented by solicitor Aisling Maloney with legal aid granted.

  In court, 31 Mar 2025Accused · 2 reports
• Two brothers acquitted of attempted murder in Tullamore Violent disorder · Co. Offaly

  On 21 March 2025, a violent altercation outside Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, Co Offaly, was followed by shots being fired at an unofficial halting site in Kilcruttin, injuring two men. Michael McDonagh (46) and Anthony McDonagh (40) were shot in the chest with shotgun pellets and transferred to St James's Hospital, Dublin. Patrick Ward (38) and John Pio Ward (42), brothers from the official halting site, were charged with attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and violent disorder. After a three-week trial at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, a jury returned majority verdicts of not guilty on all counts on 28 May 2026.

  Acquitted, 1 May 2026Accused · 2 reports

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 16 Sep2025
   In courtoffalyexpress.ie, in Three men sent for trial over violent disorder at Tullamore Hospital

   Three men sent for trial after incident at Tullamore Hospital and halting site

   accused, Richard Ward, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Ward♂27IE
2. 4 Sep2025
   In courtoffalyexpress.ie, in Two brothers acquitted of attempted murder in Tullamore

   Two men appear in court accused of attempted murder in Offaly

   accused, Richard Ward, 27, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Ward27IE
3. 4 Jul2025
   In courtoffalyexpress.ie, in Two brothers acquitted of attempted murder in Tullamore

   Offaly men will get bail if firearms are surrendered to gardai

   accused, Richard Ward, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Ward♂27IE
4. 31 Mar2025
   In courtoffalyexpress.ie, in Three men sent for trial over violent disorder at Tullamore Hospital

   Four men appear in court on charges of violent disorder in Tullamore

   accused, Richard Ward, 27, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Ward♂27IE

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.