The murder of Pat Ward, a father of four who was subjected to a horrifying assault in 2019, has reached a conclusion with the sentencing of his attackers. Niall Cox, aged 28, and Karen McDonald, aged 37, both residents of McCrea Park, have been sentenced to a total of 30 years behind bars for their roles in the brutal slaying.

Pat Ward met a tragic end in a sustained and frenzied assault that involved a barbell and a machete, leaving him with multiple injuries. His lifeless body was stripped and callously abandoned in an alleyway in Clogher, where he succumbed to his injuries.

In a courtroom filled with tension, the judge presiding over the case described the attack as “callous and savage,” highlighting the heinous nature of the crime. Pat Ward was left clinging to life, exposed to the elements before his death.

Niall Cox received a 20-year sentence for his involvement in the murder, while Karen McDonald was sentenced to 10 years. Both defendants showed remorse during the proceedings, with their heads bowed throughout the sentencing.

Following the sentencing, Pat Ward’s grieving wife, Ellen Ward, spoke about the profound impact of her husband’s brutal murder on their family. She stated, “Pat was my husband, and my entire world. He was the most loving family man, who simply idolised our four children: Tom, Leonie, Chanara, and Pat Junior.”

Ellen Ward expressed the deep emotional scars left by her husband’s tragic death, saying, “When Pat was murdered, my life was shattered. I lost the love of my life, and the way in which he died will haunt me forever.”

She went on to highlight the devastating consequences for their children, who were left to grow up without their father. “They have been left to grow up without their father,” she said. “We’re trying to get on with our lives, but it honestly breaks my heart that Pat isn’t here.”

The grieving widow expressed gratitude for the legal process and the support of friends and family but acknowledged that no sentence could bring her husband back. She concluded, “It’s not just myself and the children who continue to grieve. Pat’s parents, the wider family, and our closest friends have all suffered terribly.”