The Padraig Nally trial?

Question

Does anyone have any views on the outcome of Padraig Nally being found not guilty of the manslaughter of John "Frog" Ward?
I'd like to hear an Irish person's opinion on the matter.
Thanks

Answer 1

The judge in the initial Trial F**ked up. He instructed the jury to bring in a verdict of either Murder or Manslaughter. There was not any option available to the jury to consider unlawful killing. By his own admission, Mr Nally was guilty of the aforementioned. At his re-trial Mr. Nally confirmed what he had said at the first trial.Again there was no charge of unlawful killing. The jury could not have reached any other verdict, and got it right when they found Mr Nally not guilty of manslaughter. I would now hope that common sense prevails and open season on knackers is not waged. This case should never have gone to a re-trial, and hopefully lessons have been learned, but I doubt it.

Answer 2

I don't know all the facts but I don't think Ward was armed and although he trespassed I don't think he deserved to be killed. I reckon Nally started the job and had to go to the end for fear of revenge. I think he went too far though. I have mixed feelings about the outcome. I think he should have got some form of punishment. I hope the Ward family and friends don't have a go at him. A very sensitive case.

Answer 3

I was watching the news the day the verdict came out and they were describing how Ward died. Nally shot him a few times, beat him with a big stick and then shot him again...I think he went a bit crazy, he really wanted to kill him but then again Nally was just an old man being harrassed and he had the right to defend his property. I'm glad he gets to return to his life and i hope he can live in peace now and there'll be no more trouble

Answer 4

I live a few miles away from Nally but I dont know him and I didn't know Ward.

I thought Nally should do some time in prison, not life or anything, but a few years at least. You can say he was driven to it etc but the fact remains Ward is dead and he shot him.
I didn't realise till this weekend that he didnt mean to shoot Ward the 2nd time, just wanted to fire a shot over his head to scare him away. but still and all... the Wards lost their dad & husband. must be especially hard for the son who was with him, especially hearing Nally's statement that Ward was calling for his son to help him.

i do think if Ward was a skanger from galway or dublin Nally would be in jail now. Certainly we wouldnt know as much as we do about the family. see how we hear nowt about Nally's private life.

Answer 5

Justice prevails in a round about sort of way. I'm delighted for Mr Nally. Hope he gets left alone now.

Answer 6

I'm Irish and I'm delighted that Padraig got away with it. Any old man living on his own being terrorised by travellers should have the right to defend his home.

Answer 7

I think it's a scandal. If the trespasser had been anybody BUT a traveller Nally would have gone to prison for life.

The fact that he went back to house to reload the gun and shot Ward in the back makes it murder, at least manslaughter.

Answer 8

When pádraig nally came out of the court house looking relieved, a reporter asked him what was the first thing he would do with his freedom, go for a pint maybe? Nally replied "No thanks but I could murder a fat frog!"

Answer 9

i'm glad in a way that he got off. it shows that a man can defend his land and his possessions. i'd just like to know how it got to that stage. it was not the first time that this family had attemped to rob the poor man. where were the gardai when he was frightened for his life or when the goods he had worked so hard to get were being taken from him.
by no means should he have taken another man's life but in his mind he had no choice. he truely did fear for himself.

Answer 10

I think he was right to defend himself and his property.He was being terrorized by frog ward.

Travelers are trying to make this seem as if he was shot because he was a traveler.

If he was there trying to sell something (as travelers do) and was shot I would say it was wrong but he wasn't-he was robbing Mr.Nally as he had done before to him and many other people(he had a long criminal history)