The jury in the inquest into the death of Traveller John Ward has returned a verdict that he died as a result of gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to the head.
Today's inquest in Castlebar, Co Mayo, heard evidence from Padraig Nally and the late John 'Frog' Ward's son, Tom, about the events which took place at Mr Nally's house at Funshinaugh near Cross in Co Mayo on 14 October 2004.
Mr Nally repeated the evidence he had given during his trial that he had fired two shots at John Ward and beaten him with a stick.
He told gardaí, who investigated the shooting, that he was living in fear and had to protect himself.
Tom Ward said his father had wanted to see if he could buy a car which was parked at the side of Mr Nally's house. When he heard a shot being fired he became frightened and drove through Headford to report the matter to gardaí.
State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said Mr Ward had died from shotgun wounds with blunt force trauma to the head as a contributory factor.
Solicitor Paudge Dorrian, representing the Ward family, told RTÉ News they would be taking a civil action for damages against Mr Nally. He said he could give no further details of the action at this time.
Mr Nally was acquitted of the manslaughter of Mr Ward, a father of 11, after his conviction for manslaughter was overturned on a retrial last December.
