A man whose father was shot dead two years ago has been sentenced to five months in prison for offences committed while in the company of his late father, John Ward, and which occurred just months before Mr Ward's fatal shooting.
Charles Ward (22), Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, and Carrowbrowne halting site, Headford Road, Galway, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court yesterday to breaking a lock and to stealing a drum of diesel worth €30 from a shed at Corinthians Rugby Club, Tuam Road, Galway, on April 23rd, 2004. He also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance.
Insp Gerry Roche said Garda Owen Griffin saw John Ward's car outside the club. When he went to check, he found Charlie Ward and his father coming towards him. John Ward was carrying a diesel drum while his son was carrying steel cutters. They dropped the items and denied having taken them. When Garda Griffin investigated, he found the lock on a shed door had been broken.
Charlie Ward ran away as Garda Griffin went to arrest them. He drove his father's car away and was not insured. Insp Roche said he had 19 previous convictions.
Defence solicitor Adrian MacLynn said his client had a history of criminality and had been under the influence of his late father.
Mr MacLynn said his client now suffered as a result of the death of his father and was getting treatment for his condition. He was married with two young children and had not come to the notice of gardaí following his release from prison on other matters.
Judge Mary Fahy said there had been a lot of criminality before his father had died. While he may well have been under the influence of his father, he had jumped into the car to get away from Garda Griffin and his father had not instigated that.
Judge Fahy sentenced him to two months in prison for stealing the diesel, a month for breaking the lock and two months for driving without insurance, all to run consecutively. He was disqualified from driving for a year.