A MEMBER of the McDonagh family told Tuam District Court yesterday that she is living in fear of her life because she feels members of the rival Ward traveller family are trying to kill her.
Mrs Marguerite McDonagh was the last prosecution witness at the trial in which 34 members of the extended Ward family are accused of public order offences arising out of two days of sporadic fighting between members of the McDonagh and Ward families which began in Tuam last June.
On the 12th day of the trial, Mrs McDonagh told the court that without Garda protection she would be dead. She was afraid to go out of her house to the shops because she feared she would be killed by some of the Ward family.
The witness became emotional as she gave evidence that Mr Patrick Ward, of Gilmartin Road, his wife, Rosie, and his brother, Charlie, were in a white Transit van which had tried to run her and her mother down as they walked along the Weir Road, Tuam, last June 13th.
Judge John Neilan said he dealt with criminals every working day and he would not allow anyone to intimidate him. He said he enjoyed his life and enjoined the witness to do the same. She should not let herself be intimidated in any way. "Nobody should be afraid to walk the streets or leave their own home. This is a fine democratic society and the guards will protect you if need be."
Defence solicitor, Mr Gerard Gannon, insisted the witness was acting, saying he saw plenty of eyewiping but very little sign of any tears. "You're the same timid lady who was bound to the peace in this very court. You were bound to the peace for abusing people while they were leaving this court."
He put it to the witness that in fact it was she and her mother who had tried to provoke Mr Patrick Ward on the day in question by spitting and throwing something at his van. He said they had tried to provoke members of the Ward family but the Wards had ignored this provocation. The witness denied this.
. In a separate development, defence solicitor, Mr Gearoid Geraghty, told the court he wished to have the national president of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, Mr Paul O'Grady, cited for contempt because of comments he made claiming that the adverse publicity generated by this long running trial was having a negative effect on property values in Tuam. Mr O'Grady runs an auctioneering business in the town.
The trial resumes on Monday and a verdict is expected next week.