Axe killing linked to family feud
Brutal slaying of Sligo man may go back to car accident five years ago
GARDAI have stepped up security around Sligo after the brutal axe killing of a 23-year-old man in what is believed to be an ongoing feud between two settled Traveller families.
A murder hunt got underway following the vicious assault on the man outside his family home in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Tom Ward, a father-of-one from Cranmore Drive in Sligo, was dragged from his Ford Transit van at 1.15am and struck in the back of the head with a weapon believed to be a hatchet.
He died of his injuries five hours later at Sligo General Hospital.
Gardai believe that up to four men wearing balaclavas were involved in the attack which occurred on the street outside the home of the victim's parents in Joe McDonnell Drive in the Cranmore estate.
Street
The assailants, who were travelling in a Ford Focus car, followed the victim's van into the street.
While other relatives fled for cover into the house, Tom Ward attempted to escape his attackers by locking the doors of the van. But the assailants broke the window and dragged him out onto the street where the assault occurred.
A suspect car, similar to the one which was at the scene, was found yesterday afternoon abandoned up a lane off the Keadew Road, about six kilometres from where the attack took place. Gardai are believed to have discovered a hatchet and at least one balaclava in the vehicle, which was taken away for detailed forensic examination last night.
Investigators believe the brutal killing may be linked to an ongoing feud between two families, both from the settled Traveller community.
The feud between the Ward family and another family is believed to have begun five or six years ago following a car collision.
A post-mortem examination by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis was underway at Sligo General Hospital last night. It is expected to confirm Mr Ward died of a head injury.
Insp Gerry Connolly, who is leading the garda investigation, ruled out earlier suggestions from witnesses that shots had been fired.
He asked for witnesses to come forward.
"We are appealing to anyone who has information in relation to this crime to contact Sligo Garda Station," he said.
A garda technical team carried out a forensic examination at the scene of the attack while door-to-door inquiries were also conducted in the neighbourhood.
The van and another car were removed from the scene for examination.
Throughout the day, grieving relatives of Mr Ward, one of a family of 10, gathered at the family home amid scenes of grief.
The family said that the victim, whose wife Cliona is pregnant with their second child, had represented Ireland with some success as a boxer in his teenage years.
"Everyone is devastated. He would talk to anyone. Of all the family, everyone loved him. You wouldn't do it to a dog, what was done to him," said one grief-stricken brother.
Neighbours reacted in shock to the violence in the normally peaceful estate.
Martina Foley, who lives on the street, said her heart went out to the victim's family. "We have been 23 years living here and never in our lives have we seen anything like this. People are devastated. To rear your child to 23 years old and to see this happen."
Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, described the victim as the "happiest, jolliest little fella" you could ever meet.
- Anita Guidera
