Joseph Joyce is charged with the murder of John Paul McDonagh in a violent clash that broke out in a residential complex in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh in April 2020.
A relative of the deceased said that while taking care of the injured 18-year-old while he was bleeding on the street, he heard Joyce’s wife, Ellen, say to her husband “finish him”. Joyce, who heads Clon Elagh in Derry, has been charged with five counts in connection with the incident, including the murder of John McDonagh and the wounding of his older brother Gerard McDonagh. The 32-year-old has denied all five charges and is currently on trial at Dungannon Crown Court in Belfast. The sister-in-law of the deceased Caroline McDonagh was called to testify and confirmed that she witnessed the incident involving three McDonagh brothers and Joyce at the Coolcullen Meadow on the night of Saturday, April 11, 2020. She said that day she was at McDonagh’s house in Drumawill Gardens and that after an argument with Joyce at the back fence, three of her relatives – John, Gerard and Jimmy McDonagh – walked a short distance from their house. at Coolcullen Meadow where the Joyce family lived. The jury has already shown CCTV footage of the incident, showing a street brawl between the McDonagh brothers and Joyce. Ms McDonagh said that after she and other family members arrived at Coolcullen Meadow, she could see that John had suffered a wound to his left leg. She said she “pulled” her injured brother-in-law on the street and when asked by attorney Barra McGrory QC what happened next, she replied: “She was bleeding heavily from her leg. “When I pulled him on the road, I asked him if he was OK. He said, “Caroline, I’m gone.” He put his head on my chest. He left unconscious and I laid him on the floor. “ He said he stayed with John and helped stop the bleeding, while others ran back home to get towels. When asked if Joyce was still on the road at this stage, Mrs McDonagh said “yes”. And when Mr. McGrory asked if she heard anything said, she replied, “Ellen Joyce said to Joe Joyce, ‘Finish it.’ He (Joyce) jumped up and down with a hook in his hand saying “I am the King”. Des Fahy QC, the lawyer representing Joyce, said the defense denied Ms McDonagh’s allegations. After Mr. Fahy told her that this “was not accepted” and that Ellen Joyce “did not say it”, the witness replied “oh, it is very, very true. I was there. He shouted, “Finish it, Joe.” Defense attorney then asked Ms. McDonagh what she was doing at this point, to which she replied: “I was telling Ellen Joyce to stop. I told her she should be ashamed of herself. I was trying to stop an 18-year-old boy who was bleeding to death on the floor, Ellen was shouting “finish him” and Joe was jumping up and down with the hook in his hand shouting “I’m the King”. Despite medical care at both the scene and Southwestern Acute Hospital, John McDonagh died on April 13, 2020. The cutting hook, which was confiscated by PSNI after his death, was taken to court and presented to the judge and jurors. In listening. To receive the latest news directly in your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletter.
