THE second day of the trial of a woman accused of murdering Pat Ward has heard evidence from his widow.
Mr Ward, a 34-year-old father of four, suffered severe head trauma and upper body stab wounds.
Karen Marie McDonald (37) of McCrea Park, Clogher denies murder in February 2019. Her partner Niall Cox (27) of the same address, initially also denied murder but has since pleaded guilty.
Mr Ward’s widow Ellen told Dungannon Crown Court he was originally from Sligo but recently moved to Clogher with his family.
He had been socialising at a friend's house nearby on the evening before his death. The victim’s parents arrived to visit the family and Mrs Ward contacted him, after which he returned for a short time.
During this he asked her to get him beer and cigarettes from a local shop, which she did.
Mrs Ward noticed her husband fall at one point and believed he was intoxicated.
The victim returned to his friend’s home taking the beer, cigarettes and a phone with him.
The night wore on and Mrs Ward was becoming concerned he had not come home. She tried to ring him multiple times but the calls went unanswered.
Around 4.40am the following morning, dressed in nightwear she went out looking for him, calling first at his friend’s house who confirmed he wasn’t there.
Mrs Ward was aware her husband had previously been socialising with Cox who was also originally from Sligo, and asked the friend where he lived.
He pointed to a house on the opposite side of the road and she made her way there.
Before she could knock, the door was opened by Cox and she enquired if her husband was there.
McDonald emerged from the living room and told Mrs Ward, “Get out of my house.”
Mrs Ward noticed McDonald was wearing what appeared to be a green nightdress and a bundle of bedclothes and a dressing gown were lying in the hallway.
She again asked if they knew where her husband was and McDonald replied, “He got a taxi to Enniskillen.”
On arriving back home Mrs Ward rang police to establish if her husband had been arrested, which he hadn’t.
Throughout the night she was ringing his phone but, “It was never answered at any time.”
Around 9am the next morning detectives arrived at Mrs Ward’s home and broke the news that her husband was dead.
During a brief cross-examination Mrs Ward confirmed she believed her husband was “hiding” upstairs in McDonald's house because he knew she would be looking for him.
She confirmed on enquiring of this Cox stated, “He’s not here. Honest to God he’s not here.”
Mrs Ward said, “I did believe he was there when I went round, but Karen convinced me that he wasn’t.”
The trial continues.