Latest news with #PatrickWard
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Four from Otago in Black Sticks
Finn Ward. Photos: supplied Otago still has a solid presence in the latest Black Sticks men's squad. Hockey New Zealand yesterday announced the squad for the Oceania Cup in Darwin next month. Otago players Benji Culhane, Malachi Buschl and brothers Finn and Patrick Ward have kept their places after helping New Zealand win the Nations Cup in Kuala Lumpur in June. Finn Ward made his debut at that tournament, while brother Patrick was initially there as a travelling reserve but got a chance to play as the Black Sticks thumped Pakistan 6-2 in the final. Two players will be on debut at the Oceania Cup. Matthew Ruetsch is a Swiss-born goalkeeper, and Bradley Rothwell is a defender from Whakatane. Both the newcomers played for the Mavericks in the new Premier Hockey League last year. Patrick Ward. It will be the 13th edition of the Oceania Cup with tests on September 4, 6 and 7. Usually, the three-test series determines automatic qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup. The twist this time is that the Black Sticks have already secured a 2026 World Cup spot thanks to Australia's earlier qualification through the Pro League, meaning both teams will compete at the pinnacle event next year regardless of the outcome in Darwin. Nevertheless, it will be a valuable opportunity for world No 10 New Zealand to see how they fare against the world No 5 Australians. Black Sticks Oceania Cup squad Benji Culhane, Brad Read, Bradley Rothwell, Charlie Morrison, Dane Lett, Dom Dixon, Dylan Thomas, George Baker, Finn Ward, Isaac Houlbrooke, Joe Morrison, Malachi Buschl, Matthew Ruetsch, Patrick Ward, Sam Hiha, Sam Lane, Scott Boyde, Sean Findlay, Simon Yorston.
Sunday World
14-07-2025
- Sunday World
Dublin man raped sleeping partner and was caught trying to strangle her
Patrick Ward pleaded guilty to one count of raping her in her apartment on a date between April 28, and May 4, 2024 and has been jailed. A man who raped his partner when she was sleeping and was caught by gardaí in the act of trying to strangle her has been jailed for 10 years. Patrick Ward (36), of no fixed abode in Dublin 1, regularly self-harmed and made suicide attempts in front of the woman in an attempt to control her, the Central Criminal Court heard. Patricia McLaughlin SC, prosecuting, indicated to the court that the woman wishes for Ward to be named in reporting the case but does not want to be named herself. Counsel said the woman is confident naming him will not identify her. Ward pleaded guilty to one count of raping her in her apartment on a date between April 28, and May 4, 2024. Ms McLaughlin told the court this plea was acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on a full facts basis. Ward has 98 previous convictions, including for sexually assaulting a woman and a teenage girl while they were sleeping in two separate incidents. The Central Criminal Court (stock photo) News in 90 Seconds - Monday July 14th The court heard that Ward and the woman (41) met in 2023 and he moved into her apartment shortly afterwards. The court heard the man was a registered sex offender and failed to notify gardaí about his change of address. He had recently been released from a lengthy prison sentence for one of the sexual assault matters. The court heard that on May 21, 2024, gardaí responded to a 999 call for help. They arrived at the apartment and find Ward on top of the woman, strangling her. He was arrested at the scene. The woman had walked into a city centre garda station earlier that day to state she was in fear of Ward, but she was put out of the station for smoking. When she returned home to her apartment, Ward started attacking her, and she managed to call 999. When the woman made a statement to gardaí following the man's arrest, she outlined a history of abuse, including that Ward would regularly threaten suicide and self-harm himself in front of her. She also outlined an incident of rape that had occurred a few weeks prior. In relation to this incident, the court heard that she became aware that Ward had raped her when she was sleeping after she found a video recording of it on his phone. She forwarded it to herself before he deleted it. The court heard that in the sexual assault case involving the teenage girl, Ward broke into her property and she awoke to him assaulting her. The sexual assault involving the woman occurred while she was sleeping beside her small child. Ward also has previous convictions for harassment of a former partner, theft, criminal damage, burglary and public order offences. In a victim impact statement which she read out in court, the woman said she struggles with anxiety and night terrors and that she lost her apartment and her job as a result of the trauma inflicted on her. 'Every day is a struggle as I try to understand - how could your boyfriend that you trusted at the time, rape you while you're asleep?' she said. 'Two weeks later, he strangled me. I thought I was going to die. I don't think this is something I will ever get to understand.' She said she feels humiliated and disgusted by his actions and that the images she saw when he self-harmed in front of her will never leave her. Under questioning from defence counsel, Daniel O'Connell BL, the woman said she was unaware of the extent of the Ward's criminal history. 'If I knew that he was doing that to women when they were asleep, I would not have felt comfortable,' she said. The garda agreed with defence counsel that the couple had a turbulent relationship with substance abuse issues. She acknowledged that his client had a difficult upbringing and that he has suffered with his mental health for many years having first suffered with depression at the age of 17. In his plea of mitigation to the court, Michael Lynn SC, defending, asked the court to consider that his client is 'on the cusp now' and at a juncture in his life where he has demonstrated a change in mindset and a desire to rehabilitate. Counsel said this was evident by Ward's plea of guilt and remorse which his psychologist is confident is credible. 'He realises now that he needs to change his lifestyle completely to change his life,' Mr Lynn submitted adding that Ward is on enhanced status in the prison. Sentencing Ward today/yesterday (MON) Ms Justice Greally said the rape was committed for Ward's sexual gratification and that he strangled the woman out of anger and to impose control over her. She said the offence warranted a headline sentence of 16 years taking into account the 'immense breach of trust involved' and the fact that offences occurred in the woman's home. Ms Justice Greally also noted from the victim impact statement the detrimental consequences for the woman, including the loss of her home and occupation. The judge noted that the woman felt 'humiliated, exposed and degraded' and that she felt she was going to die when Ward was strangling her. Her mental health has deteriorated as a result. Ms Justice Greally acknowledged that Ward grew up in a difficult environment where abuse of alcohol was the norm. She acknowledged that he has since demonstrated remorse and has accepted responsibility but she noted that reports before the court indicated that Ward has 'limited insight into intimate partner violence and the impact of it'. Ms Justice Greally reduced the headline sentence to 11 and half years taking into account the mitigating features of the case including Ward's plea of guilty, admissions, the remorse which the judge said he has expressed in multiple ways and a positive report from the governor of the prison. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions including that Ward engage with the Probation Service for 18 months and undergo any courses as recommended by them. She also ordered him not to have any contact either directly or indirectly with the woman or members of her family for the next 40 years.
Irish Times
14-07-2025
- Irish Times
Man who raped partner and was later caught by gardaí trying to strangle her is jailed for 10 years
A man who raped his partner when she was sleeping and was later caught by gardaí trying to strangle her has been jailed for 10 years. Patrick Ward (36), of no fixed abode in Dublin 1, regularly self-harmed and made suicide attempts in front of the woman in an attempt to control her, the Central Criminal Court heard. Patricia McLaughlin SC, prosecuting, told the court the woman wished for Ward to be named in reports of the case, but did not want to be named herself. Counsel said the woman was confident that naming Ward would not identify her. Ward pleaded guilty to one count of raping the woman in her apartment between April 28th and May 4th last year. READ MORE Ward has 98 previous convictions, including for sexually assaulting a woman and a teenage girl in two separate incidents while they slept. The Central Criminal Court heard how Ward and the woman (41) met in 2023 and he moved into her apartment shortly afterwards. He was a registered sex offender, but failed to tell gardaí about his change of address. He had recently been released from a lengthy prison sentence for one of the sexual assault matters. On May 21st last year gardaí responded to a 999 call. They arrived at the apartment and found Ward on top of the woman, strangling her. He was arrested at the scene, the court heard. The woman had walked into a city-centre Garda station earlier that day to state she was in fear of Ward, but she was put out of the station for smoking. When she returned home Ward started attacking her. When the woman made a statement to gardaí, she outlined a history of abuse and an incident of rape that had occurred a few weeks prior. The court heard she became aware Ward had raped her as she slept after she found a video recording of what happened on his phone. She forwarded it to herself before he deleted it. In a victim impact statement, which she read out in court, the woman said she struggled with anxiety and night terrors and said she lost her apartment and her job as a result of the trauma inflicted on her. She said she felt humiliated and disgusted by his actions and said the images she saw when he self-harmed in front of her would never leave her. Michael Lynn SC, defending, asked the court to consider that his client was 'on the cusp now' and at a juncture in his life where he had demonstrated a change in mindset and a desire to rehabilitate. Counsel said this was evident by Ward's plea of guilt and remorse which his psychologist was confident was credible. Sentencing Ward on Monday, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said the rape was committed for his sexual gratification and that he strangled the woman out of anger and to impose control over her. She said the offence warranted a headline sentence of 16 years, taking into account the 'immense breach of trust involved' and the fact that offences occurred in the woman's home. She acknowledged Ward grew up in a difficult environment where abuse of alcohol was the norm. She acknowledged he has since demonstrated remorse and has accepted responsibility. Ms Justice Greally reduced the headline sentence to 11-and-half years, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions including that Ward engage with the Probation Service for 18 months and undergo any courses as recommended by them. She also ordered Ward not to have any contact either directly or indirectly with the woman or members of her family for the next 40 years.
BreakingNews.ie
14-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (36) jailed for raping his partner and caught trying to strangle her
A man who raped his partner when she was sleeping and was caught by gardaí in the act of trying to strangle her has been jailed for 10 years. Patrick Ward (36), of no fixed abode in Dublin 1, regularly self-harmed and made suicide attempts in front of the woman in an attempt to control her, the Central Criminal Court heard. Advertisement Patricia McLaughlin SC, prosecuting, indicated to the court that the woman wishes for Ward to be named in reporting the case but does not want to be named herself. Counsel said the woman is confident naming him will not identify her. Ward pleaded guilty to one count of raping her in her apartment on a date between April 28th and May 4th 2024. Ms McLaughlin told the court this plea was acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on a full facts basis. Ward has 98 previous convictions, including for sexually assaulting a woman and a teenage girl while they were sleeping in two separate incidents. Advertisement The court heard that Ward and the woman (41) met in 2023 and he moved into her apartment shortly afterwards. The court heard the man was a registered sex offender and failed to notify gardaí about his change of address. He had recently been released from a lengthy prison sentence for one of the sexual assault matters. The court heard that on May 21st 2024, gardaí responded to a 999 call for help. They arrived at the apartment and find Ward on top of the woman, strangling her. He was arrested at the scene. Advertisement The woman had walked into a city centre garda station earlier that day to state she was in fear of Ward, but she was put out of the station for smoking. When she returned home to her apartment, Ward started attacking her, and she managed to call 999. When the woman made a statement to gardaí following the man's arrest, she outlined a history of abuse, including that Ward would regularly threaten suicide and self-harm himself in front of her. She also outlined an incident of rape that had occurred a few weeks prior. Advertisement In relation to this incident, the court heard that she became aware that Ward had raped her when she was sleeping after she found a video recording of it on his phone. She forwarded it to herself before he deleted it. The court heard that in the sexual assault case involving the teenage girl, Ward broke into her property and she awoke to him assaulting her. The sexual assault involving the woman occurred while she was sleeping beside her small child. Ward also has previous convictions for harassment of a former partner, theft, criminal damage, burglary and public order offences. In a victim impact statement which she read out in court, the woman said she struggles with anxiety and night terrors and that she lost her apartment and her job as a result of the trauma inflicted on her. Advertisement 'Every day is a struggle as I try to understand - how could your boyfriend that you trusted at the time, rape you while you're asleep?' she said. 'Two weeks later, he strangled me. I thought I was going to die. I don't think this is something I will ever get to understand.' She said she feels humiliated and disgusted by his actions and that the images she saw when he self-harmed in front of her will never leave her. Under questioning from defence counsel, Daniel O'Connell BL, the woman said she was unaware of the extent of the Ward's criminal history. 'If I knew that he was doing that to women when they were asleep, I would not have felt comfortable,' she said. The garda agreed with defence counsel that the couple had a turbulent relationship with substance abuse issues. She acknowledged that his client had a difficult upbringing and that he has suffered with his mental health for many years having first suffered with depression at the age of 17. In his plea of mitigation to the court, Michael Lynn SC, defending, asked the court to consider that his client is 'on the cusp now' and at a juncture in his life where he has demonstrated a change in mindset and a desire to rehabilitate. Counsel said this was evident by Ward's plea of guilt and remorse which his psychologist is confident is credible. 'He realises now that he needs to change his lifestyle completely to change his life,' Mr Lynn submitted adding that Ward is on enhanced status in the prison. Sentencing Ward on Monday, Ms Justice Greally said the rape was committed for Ward's sexual gratification and that he strangled the woman out of anger and to impose control over her. She said the offence warranted a headline sentence of 16 years taking into account the 'immense breach of trust involved' and the fact that offences occurred in the woman's home. Ms Justice Greally also noted from the victim impact statement the detrimental consequences for the woman, including the loss of her home and occupation. The judge noted that the woman felt 'humiliated, exposed and degraded' and that she felt she was going to die when Ward was strangling her. Her mental health has deteriorated as a result. Ms Justice Greally acknowledged that Ward grew up in a difficult environment where abuse of alcohol was the norm. She acknowledged that he has since demonstrated remorse and has accepted responsibility but she noted that reports before the court indicated that Ward has 'limited insight into intimate partner violence and the impact of it'. Ireland Courts Service launches first Irish language strat... Read More Ms Justice Greally reduced the headline sentence to 11 and half years taking into account the mitigating features of the case including Ward's plea of guilty, admissions, the remorse which the judge said he has expressed in multiple ways and a positive report from the governor of the prison. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions including that Ward engage with the Probation Service for 18 months and undergo any courses as recommended by them. She also ordered him not to have any contact either directly or indirectly with the woman or members of her family for the next 40 years. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at or visit Rape Crisis Help.
Irish Post
01-06-2025
- Irish Post
Co. Galway pair jailed over counterfeit cash scam across England as warrant issued for third man
TWO men from Co. Galway have been jailed over their role in a counterfeit cash scam carried out across England. Patrick Ward, 22, of Coole Park, Galway, and Jason Ward, 19, of Radharc Na Freine, Galway, have been jailed for 30 months and 28 months rerspectively. The latter will serve his sentence in a young offender institution. Meanwhile, a warrant has been issued for a third man from Galway who failed to appear in court. "The defendants came to the UK from Ireland with a view to using fake cash to fund their lifestyles, and it is right that they have been successfully prosecuted for their offending," said Detective Sergeant Craig Twycross from West Yorkshire Police. The two men were arrested on January 21, 2025 after officers stopped a car in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Inside the vehicle, officers found items that had been bought from various stores in Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield and Chesterfield using counterfeit Scottish bank notes. As part of a scam, items bought with the fake money were then returned to other store branches and refunded with genuine cash. Warrant Further offences linked to the group were identified in the Thames Valley, West Midlands, West Mercia, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire police force areas. Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to have custody or control of a thing knowing it was a counterfeit currency note, passing counterfeit currency and converting criminal property. They were sentenced on Friday, May 23 at Leeds Crown Court. A third man, 19-year-old William Browne of St Finbars Terrace, Galway, was also charged but failed to appear at court and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. "This was a complex investigation which has prevented fake notes circulating around the country and leaving businesses with worthless cash," said DS Twycross. He added: "I want to urge retailers to be vigilant and take the time to check notes thoroughly. "Anyone who notices incidents involving these fake Scottish notes should report them to your local police force." See More: Galway, Wakefield, Yorkshire
