Serial sex predator back on the prowl after prison chiefs give him second chance
Remorseless attacker knocked one woman's teeth out and grabbed another by the genitals
Thomas Ward has been told he's not welcome back to Coalisland
One of Ulster's most dangerous sex predators is back on the prowl after prison chiefs deemed him worthy of a second chance.
Thomas Ward was fast-tracked into a pre-release programme in 2023 but he breached the terms of his release and was thrown back into jail.
In 2011 a judge deemed Ward, who is now aged 37, to be so dangerous he was ordered to serve an indeterminate jail term for a second sick sex attack on a woman.
But five years before that Ward kidnapped a 45-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her and tried to rape her – knocking out her teeth during the savage attack.
We can reveal that remorseless sex attacker Ward is now back on the streets after he was given a second chance at serving the last few months of his sentence in Burren House.
Burren House holds up to 20 prisoners in unlocked cells at a site in the grounds of the old Crumlin Road jail in Belfast and inmates are allowed to leave the unit during the day and even have jobs.
Recently we revealed a list of killers and other life-sentence prisoners who are due to be either released completely or are due to be sent to Burren House – the Northern Ireland Prison Service's 'open prison' unit designed to prepare lifers for permanent release
They include monsters like Stephen 'Bulldog' Scott who hacksawed his pregnant teenage girlfriend Sylvia Fleming after he'd murdered her in 1998, and Andrew Robinson, jailed for life for stabbing his fiancée, Julie-Anne Osborne, nearly 50 times in 2001.
Burren House holds up to 20 prisoners in unlocked cells
Security sources have told the Sunday World they want a review of the process, pointing out how some prisoners have been moved there multiple times despite their rule-breaking while others who are well behaved never get a chance.
Despite his disgusting crimes and rule breaches, Ward has been deemed safe to be set loose on the streets.
As part of his first release programme back in 2023, Ward has been on several UTRs (unaccompanied temporary releases) with family.
He has also been approved access to female relatives despite being a danger to women and being deemed the most high-risk level of sex offender.
'Here's another one who has breached the rules and been sent back but is getting another chance,' said a prison insider.
'He's a thug too – he was notorious for picking on other inmates and beating them up. He was even done for attacking a prison officer ten years ago so it's not like he's been a model prisoner.
'It's another example of someone getting preferential treatment for some reason while other prisoners who do behave never get a chance.'
When he was first listed for release to Burren two years ago, members of the Traveller community, of which Thomas Ward belongs, made it clear he wasn't welcome back in Coalisland where he had lived before.
In February 2011, Ward followed and attacked a woman as she jogged through Cookstown in a terrifying repeat offence.
After grabbing the woman by her genitals, he then chased her down the street. The shocking incident – caught on CCTV – happened in broad daylight and police caught him shortly afterwards in a Tesco car park.
The woman told police she only escaped his attack when she fled into a house.
Judge David McFarland ordered that Ward serve an indeterminate prison sentence with a minimum of two years and only to be released when he is no longer thought to pose a risk of reoffending.
But the husband of his first victim – who Ward tried to rape in 2006 – told us there should never have been a second.
Thomas Ward has been told he's not welcome back to Coalisland
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Ward had already served two years of a five-year sentence for another serious sex attack in 2006 before he was released into the public again as a Category Three offender – the most dangerous on the scale.
In 2010 the husband of that victim told the Sunday World that Ward would strike again and should never have been released. Speaking at the time, the man said: 'That animal will attack another woman I have no doubt about it.'
As it turned out he did strike again and appeared in court just a few days after our article appeared when he attacked the female jogger in Cookstown.
'Ward should never have been out free to attack this poor woman,' said the man, who asked not to be identified to protect his wife.
'This time they should lock him up and throw away the key – he's an animal. He wrecked my wife's life and all he served was two-and-a-half years of a five-year jail sentence.'
Ward assaulted the man's wife after he had kidnapped her in Coalisland. He held the 45-year-old woman against her will and knocked out her teeth during the savage attack.
As well as sexual assault, Ward was also convicted of kidnapping and causing his victim actual bodily harm.
The attack only ended when his victim wrapped her handbag around her fist and hit him before biting his fingers.
She then ran in the dark through a wooded area and managed to flag down a passing female motorist.
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Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Serial sex predator back on the prowl after prison chiefs give him second chance
Remorseless attacker knocked one woman's teeth out and grabbed another by the genitals Thomas Ward has been told he's not welcome back to Coalisland One of Ulster's most dangerous sex predators is back on the prowl after prison chiefs deemed him worthy of a second chance. Thomas Ward was fast-tracked into a pre-release programme in 2023 but he breached the terms of his release and was thrown back into jail. In 2011 a judge deemed Ward, who is now aged 37, to be so dangerous he was ordered to serve an indeterminate jail term for a second sick sex attack on a woman. But five years before that Ward kidnapped a 45-year-old woman and sexually assaulted her and tried to rape her – knocking out her teeth during the savage attack. We can reveal that remorseless sex attacker Ward is now back on the streets after he was given a second chance at serving the last few months of his sentence in Burren House. Burren House holds up to 20 prisoners in unlocked cells at a site in the grounds of the old Crumlin Road jail in Belfast and inmates are allowed to leave the unit during the day and even have jobs. Recently we revealed a list of killers and other life-sentence prisoners who are due to be either released completely or are due to be sent to Burren House – the Northern Ireland Prison Service's 'open prison' unit designed to prepare lifers for permanent release They include monsters like Stephen 'Bulldog' Scott who hacksawed his pregnant teenage girlfriend Sylvia Fleming after he'd murdered her in 1998, and Andrew Robinson, jailed for life for stabbing his fiancée, Julie-Anne Osborne, nearly 50 times in 2001. Burren House holds up to 20 prisoners in unlocked cells Security sources have told the Sunday World they want a review of the process, pointing out how some prisoners have been moved there multiple times despite their rule-breaking while others who are well behaved never get a chance. Despite his disgusting crimes and rule breaches, Ward has been deemed safe to be set loose on the streets. As part of his first release programme back in 2023, Ward has been on several UTRs (unaccompanied temporary releases) with family. He has also been approved access to female relatives despite being a danger to women and being deemed the most high-risk level of sex offender. 'Here's another one who has breached the rules and been sent back but is getting another chance,' said a prison insider. 'He's a thug too – he was notorious for picking on other inmates and beating them up. He was even done for attacking a prison officer ten years ago so it's not like he's been a model prisoner. 'It's another example of someone getting preferential treatment for some reason while other prisoners who do behave never get a chance.' When he was first listed for release to Burren two years ago, members of the Traveller community, of which Thomas Ward belongs, made it clear he wasn't welcome back in Coalisland where he had lived before. In February 2011, Ward followed and attacked a woman as she jogged through Cookstown in a terrifying repeat offence. After grabbing the woman by her genitals, he then chased her down the street. The shocking incident – caught on CCTV – happened in broad daylight and police caught him shortly afterwards in a Tesco car park. The woman told police she only escaped his attack when she fled into a house. Judge David McFarland ordered that Ward serve an indeterminate prison sentence with a minimum of two years and only to be released when he is no longer thought to pose a risk of reoffending. But the husband of his first victim – who Ward tried to rape in 2006 – told us there should never have been a second. Thomas Ward has been told he's not welcome back to Coalisland ui Ward had already served two years of a five-year sentence for another serious sex attack in 2006 before he was released into the public again as a Category Three offender – the most dangerous on the scale. In 2010 the husband of that victim told the Sunday World that Ward would strike again and should never have been released. Speaking at the time, the man said: 'That animal will attack another woman I have no doubt about it.' As it turned out he did strike again and appeared in court just a few days after our article appeared when he attacked the female jogger in Cookstown. 'Ward should never have been out free to attack this poor woman,' said the man, who asked not to be identified to protect his wife. 'This time they should lock him up and throw away the key – he's an animal. He wrecked my wife's life and all he served was two-and-a-half years of a five-year jail sentence.' Ward assaulted the man's wife after he had kidnapped her in Coalisland. He held the 45-year-old woman against her will and knocked out her teeth during the savage attack. As well as sexual assault, Ward was also convicted of kidnapping and causing his victim actual bodily harm. The attack only ended when his victim wrapped her handbag around her fist and hit him before biting his fingers. She then ran in the dark through a wooded area and managed to flag down a passing female motorist.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Murder of Scottish gangsters in Spain could drag Kinahan Cartel into new mob war
Fears that double killing could signal Irish gangsters' involvement in new mob war The pair, who were shot dead in an attack at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol eight days ago, were key figures in the Glasgow-based Lyons crime gang. The Lyons mob formed a close alliance with the Kinahan Cartel through Eddie Jnr's brother, Stephen, who previously lived in Spain and now resides in Dubai, and were suspected of helping the Kinahans coordinate the shipment of €157million of cocaine on board the MV Matthews. Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP and former crime journalist Russell Findlay yesterday told the Sunday World a major concern for StephenLyons at this moment is whether the Kinahans may have, in fact, sanctioned the hit. The scene at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol where Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were gunned down 'We already know the Kinahans' involvement in the Scottish drug trade is significant,' he said. 'Their connections with the Lyons have fuelled gangland violence in Scotland and escalated it over the years. 'In the paranoid world of organised crime, there is a lot of smoke and mirrors, a lot of speculation, but what I suppose this boils down to, is either the Kinahans have had a hand in these murders due to some unknown internal fallout or they have seen two of their allies gunned down in cold blood. 'If it is the latter, then the expectation would be there will be some kind of retribution. 'If I was in Stephen Lyons' shoes, living my luxury air-conditioned lifestyle in Dubai, I would be seeking a meeting with the Kinahans at the earliest possible opportunity to work out who has been responsible for this. . 'But the real fear now is this will only fuel gangland violence, not just in Spain, but also in the streets of Scotland.' In the immediate aftermath of the double assassination at Monaghan's bar, speculation immediately connected the killings to a feud between the Lyons and the rival Daniel gang in Scotland. An escalation in that feud has resulted in assaults, shootings and fire-bombings across Glasgow and Edinburgh in recent months. However, a Lyons family member subsequently discounted this theory, while a statement by Police Scotland said there is 'nothing to suggest that the shooting in Fuengirola was planned from within Scotland'. Ross Monaghan Spanish police are instead understood to be focussed on the likelihood the murders are linked to wider gangland tensions – and are making inquiries to determine what if any stance the Kinahans had taken on the killings. Lyons (46), and Monaghan (43) died when a gunman opened fire on them in the Fuengirola bar – where the pair had watched the Champions League final, at about 11pm on the night of the killings.# The gunman then fled the scene in a car. Sources say the Daniel gang had shied away from making any moves against the Lyons in Spain due to their connections with the Kinahan mob and believe it unlikely their attitude would have changed sufficiently for involvement in the double killing likely. Outlining the background to the Kinahan's alliance with the Lyons and the effect this had on their feud with the Daniel gang, our source referred to a triple shooting in Scotland that occurred at an MOT station in the Lambhill area of the city in 2006. Gangsters Eddie Lyons Jnr In that shooting, Stephen Lyons was badly wounded, as was his associate Robert Pickett, while Stephen's cousin Michael Lyons was shot dead. A source said: 'Going way back, there was a triple shooting in Glasgow at an MOT station, Stephen was shot, his cousin Michael was murdered, and a third man Pickett was shot. backlash 'That resulted in Stephen fleeing to Spain. And it was that, fleeing to Spain, that was either the catalyst for the Kinahan connection being made or that made it bigger than it had already been. 'At that point, some Daniel gang-related associate was in the Costa del Sol and ascertained the Lyons were close to the Kinahans and took the view that they could not make a move on them in Spain. 'They could not make a move against Stephen in Spain. Russell Findlay 'So, if the Daniel gang took the view that was too big a move or that the backlash would be too big back then, it would be consistent with them not having the wherewithal to do it now.' The source said Stephen Lyons is the only member remaining out of the youth gang from which he, Michael and Eddie Jnr emerged. 'The rest are either dead or in prison,' he said. Asked if Stephen Lyons has anything to fear from his long-term allies, the Kinahans, the source responded: 'These people have absolutely no qualms about putting a knife between the shoulder blades of their best friends if it suits them. 'There's no loyalty and there's a paranoia that envelopes everything they do. So, it would be premature to assume the Kinahans are on a war footing over this to avenge the Lyons murders when for all we know they could have been responsible for it.' In their statement released on Tuesday, Police Scotland said they were not directly investigating the double murder. Instead they said: 'The investigation into the fatal shootings in Fuengirola is being carried out by Spanish police,' it said. 'Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police where requested; however at this time we have no officers deployed within Spain. 'There is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge. 'Any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain are not helpful to the ongoing investigations in either country.'
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Multi-million euro operation to clean illegal dump starts after decades of complaints
Illegal dump in residential area is finally being cleaned up... 19 YEARS after locals complained about the dangerous eyesore close to their homes The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses A digger at the site at Belcamp in Dublin A multi-million euro operation to clean up a huge illegal dump just metres from the homes of disgusted residents has started after decades of complaints. In 2012, the Sunday World highlighted how criminal gangs were suspected of being behind the waste collection racket making millions from the site at Darndale in north Dublin. Photographs taken from a helicopter at the time show the huge scale of the dump, which continued to mount for years afterwards. Local resident and campaigner Annette Flanagan this week said people had been complaining to Dublin City Council for 19 years, but little action had been taken. Contractors moved in to begin work on the site on April 29, finally starting the long-awaited clean-up. A council spokesperson said the operation is expected to cost between €6 million and €8 million and there are no plans for action against anyone responsible for it. Annette told the Sunday World: 'I've fought this for 19 years and no-one cared. Every single week it should have been in the papers, it should have been on the radio.' 'Nobody had our back around here, not one person, no TDs, 19 years I'm fighting this. 'DCC is our landlord at the end of the day, and we should never have been living metres from an illegal landfill. 'There's a lot of people, an awful lot of people, who died around here, we can't prove that it's anything to do with the landfill. We'll never prove that,' she added. 'The people that died had lung cancer, breast cancer and DCC did not give two s***s. They just kept constantly kicking that can down the road, they didn't care.' The turning point came when an environmental solicitor at Community Law & Mediation launched a legal bid to force the council to take action. 'We had to live around here and live beside that, which was embarrassing, disgusting — fires every night,' said Annette. The illegal dump near Belcamp in Coolock, Dublin Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025 'At the end of the day, I blame DCC for the whole lot of it. 'Eventually I was taking them to court, but on the 29th of April, all of a sudden, they got started.' Annette said the important thing now is to get moving on putting out tenders to redevelop the site and not wait another 19 years. Residents have suggested the council should build facilities such as a sensory garden, allotments, an all-weather pitch and a playground. 'It was a long fight to get it done, let me tell you, for the people around here. People were just so depressed. To look out your door every morning or your window and look at seven stories high is a holy disgrace,' said Annette. 'It's getting done now, but it should have never happened.' There are concerns about what might be unearthed from industrial and household waste. Community Law & Mediation welcomed the start of work to remove the landfill, which was a 'serious health and environmental hazard.' 'We remain prepared to take further action as necessary to ensure that the site is fully and safely cleared and that the community's rights are protected,' said a spokesperson. Asbestos has previously been found at the dump, which is estimated to hold 40,000 tons of commercial and domestic waste and is infested with rats. The clean-up operation is expected to take up to four months.
