Witness passed off bar of soap as cannabis

Date Published: 20-Nov-2008

A WITNESS in a Galway shooting trial told a jury yesterday that he sold a bar of soap for €600 to another man who believed it was a bar of hash.

When asked to return the money, P.J. Doherty of 47 Cartur Mór, Knocknacarra, Salthill, Galway, told the buyer, Michael Sweeney, to go home and wash himself, Galway Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday.

Mr. Doherty was giving evidence during the second day of the trial of Anthony McDonagh (42), of 37 Tulach Ard, Circular Road, Galway, who denies two charges of being in possession of a shotgun and a shotgun cartridge on April 18 last with intent to endanger life at Whitestrand Road, Salthill Galway. He also denies a charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Martin Ward, on the same date.

Martin Ward (21), of Corrach Bui, Rahoon, Galway, lost part of his right hand, including his thumb, when shot at point blank range with a sawn off shotgun as he sat in a friend’s Chinese food delivery van at 10pm on April 18. Surgeons later reconstructed his hand by attaching his severed index finger to replace his missing thumb.

Martin Ward told the jury …