Two brothers have gone on trial for the attempted murder of two other brothers at an unofficial halting site in Tullamore, Co Offaly last year.
John Pio Ward, aged 42, with an address at the halting site in Kilcruttin, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Michael McDonagh on 21 March 2025.
His younger brother, 38-year-old Patrick Ward, who also has an address at the halting site, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Anthony McDonagh on the same date.
Both McDonagh brothers were shot in the chest, neck and face and the court heard "how lucky they were" they were not killed.
The Ward brothers have also each denied charges of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and violent disorder at the Kilcruttin halting site on the same date
The court was told that the Ward brothers live in the official halting site in Tullamore, while the McDonagh's live at the unofficial halting site near the train station.
Both families have known each other for years and Michael and Anthony McDonagh's sister Eileen is Patrick Ward's partner and they have children together.
Prosecuting counsel Kevin White said that at around 9.50pm on 21 March 2025, at the emergency department at Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, a "violent altercation" or a row broke out between Michael McDonagh and his son Arthur and three members of the Ward family, who are cousins of the two men on trial.
The McDonaghs then drove back to their unofficial halting site in a white Ford Focus but a short time later at around 10.15pm, a large group arrived from the official halting site where the Wards live and attacked the McDonagh’s halting site.
Some had firearms, shots were fired and "pandemonium ensued" as men, women and children ran for cover.
Michael and Anthony McDonagh were both shot and injured in the chest, face and neck by pellets from cartridges discharged from what the prosecution says were 12-gauge shotguns.
The weapons were never recovered.
Michael and Anthony McDonagh were taken to Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, before being transferred to the intensive care unit at St James's Hospital in Dublin.
The court will hear medical evidence as to the extent of their injuries and how the pellets embedded in their bodies were close to their vital organs, which the prosecution said showed "just how lucky they were" that the shootings were not fatal.
The court was also told that Michael McDonagh recognised John Ward as the man who pointed a gun at him and shot him while Anthony McDonagh recognised Patrick Ward as the man who shot him.
On 8 April 2025, both McDonagh brothers made formal statements to gardaí and on 23 April 2025 the two accused, Patrick and John Pio Ward, were arrested and interviewed.
The scene at the unofficial halting site was also preserved and technically examined and shotgun cartridges and wadding were recovered.
CCTV of the initial incident at the hospital was secured and will be played in court.
Gardaí carried out searches and arrests before the two men were charged following a direction from the DPP.
Both Patrick and John Pio Ward have pleaded not guilty to three charges each.
The trial before a jury of seven men and five women is expected to last two weeks.
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