Senior garda to examine Ward ruling

The Garda Commissioner has appointed a senior officer to examine the judgment by the Special Criminal Court in the case of Paul…

The Garda Commissioner has appointed a senior officer to examine the judgment by the Special Criminal Court in the case of Paul Ward, who was convicted of the murder of Veronica Guerin.

Mr Byrne has appointed Assistant Commissioner Mr Kevin Carty to examine the criticisms of the Garda handling of the case. On Friday the three judges ruled that the admissions allegedly made by Ward in custody were inadmissible.

The judges said there was an "element of doubt" that the admissions had been made. They also criticised gardai for putting pressure on Ward by using visits from his 74 year-old mother and his girlfriend while he was in custody.

As a result of the ruling Ward was convicted solely on the uncorroborated evidence of Charles Bowden, a former accomplice who has turned State witness. A Garda spokesman said Mr Carty, a former head of the Garda National Drugs Unit, would look at the implications of the criticism and report back to Mr Byrne.