Pat Ward: Niall Cox admits to Clogher murder jury is told

Pat Ward, 30, was found dead in an alleyway in Clogher in February 2019

A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of a father-of-four in Clogher, County Tyrone, a jury has been told.

The body of 30-year-old Pat Ward, who was originally from Sligo in the Republic of Ireland, was found in an alley at McCrea Park in February 2019.

Niall Cox, 27, has pleaded guilty to his murder.

The revelation was made at the start of the trial of his former partner Karen McDonald, 37, who denies murdering Mr Ward.

The jury heard that Mr Ward had been drinking at the home of Ms McDonald and Mr Cox in McCrea Park.

They were shown CCTV footage from the night of the murder.

Niall Cox has pleaded guilty to the murder of Pat Ward

These included Mr Ward, Mr Cox and Ms McDonald buying alcohol in a nearby off-licence earlier in the evening.

Cameras on a neighbour's house also captured the events that occurred outside in the early hours of 9 February 2019.

Mr Ward's wife went to the couple's house at 04:45 looking for her husband but was allegedly told by Ms McDonald to "get out of my house".

She said the defendant told her "who do you think I am to have Pat Ward in my house" as there were two children asleep upstairs.

A prosecution lawyer said there was no children in the house and asked the jury "why did she lie to the wife of this man?"

The lawyer said the incident of "crucial significance" was footage at 06:42 of two people dragging a body out of a house and down an alleyway.

He said Ms McDonald was holding his legs while Mr Cox was pulling him along by his arms into the alleyway.

The person may still have been alive at this stage, the lawyer said.

While Ms McDonald returned to the house, Mr Cox stayed in the alleyway for four minutes.

Karen McDonald denies murdering Pat Ward

A witness claimed to have heard someone say "don't kill me", the court was told.

Mr Ward's partially clothed body was discovered lying face down by a couple walking to work.

He had suffered head and upper body injuries after he was hit with an object.

A police search of Ms McDonald and Mr Cox's home revealed blood-stained clothing, and blood on the walls and ceiling.

The lawyer said there were only three people in that house that night.

"Mr Ward is now deceased, Mr Cox has pleaded guilty to the murder. The third person is this accused [Karen McDonald]," he said.

The jury was told it would have to determine what happened and whether the murder was a joint enterprise.

The trial is expected to last two weeks.