A man shot dead at a funeral in Co Sligo two years ago was shot in the back, a murder trial jury heard yesterday.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dublin, Mr Martin McDonagh (29), of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Patrick "Deuce" Ward (38), and to the attempted murder of Mr Patrick "Jaws" Ward snr, Mr Edward "Ned" Ward and Mr "Jaws Paddy" Ward jnr, all at the funeral in Carrownanty, Ballymote, Co Sligo, on May 10th, 1999.
He has also denied possession of a Browning pistol with intent to endanger life in Ballymote on the same date.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, has said there is no evidence to suggest a handgun dumped by the accused in a ditch close to the cemetery was the gun used to kill Mr Patrick "Deuce" Ward. But the prosecution alleges he was part of a common design with members of the "Bumbee McDonagh" family to attack members of the "Mountbellew Ward" family.
Members of the Ward family, including the uncle of the deceased, Mr Patrick "Jaws" Ward snr, have identified the accused as one of five men they allege used guns at the scene. The trouble broke out when members of both families, some of whom had travelled from Manchester and Hertfordshire, arrived in Ballymote for the funeral of Mr Patrick Ward's namesake.
The trial continues.