Martin Ward (Jnr) and Patrick McDonagh jalied for manslaughter of James Ray

Martin Ward (Jnr) and Patrick McDonagh

Martin Patrick Ward (Jnr) and Patrick John McDonagh have been jailed after being convicted of the manslaughter of James Ray, aggravated vehicle taking (causing death) and conspiracy to steal.

On Monday (19 December 2016), at Manchester Crown Court, Ward Jnr (04/12/1991) of Royds Street, Rochdale was sentenced to 13 years in prison. McDonagh (25/04/1996) of The Cray, Milnrow was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison. 

An Oldham man was also jailed - Patrick Joseph Cawley (27/05/1994) of Orchard Crescent, Chadderton was sentenced to seven years in prison.

As part of the same hearing, three other men were also convicted of an offence of conspiracy to steal which was unconnected to the death of Mr Ray:

Martin Patrick Ward (Snr) (12/05/1971) of Claybank Street, Heywood was sentenced to five years in prison.

Two other men, aged 23 and 39 received suspended sentences.

Sometime before 12pm on 12 November 2015, delivery driver James Ray, 69, made a stop at the Plantation Industrial Estate in Ashton-under-Lyne as part of his work route and climbed into the back of his van to grab the product he was dropping off.

The precise circumstances leading to his death have never been established, however it is believed that James fell out of the back door of the van as it was being stolen and driven away, causing the injuries which proved to be fatal.

As the van continued to drive away at speed with Cawley and McDonagh inside, Ward Jnr followed in a Ford Fiesta that the three had originally arrived in, leaving Mr Ray lying on the floor with catastrophic injuries.

He was found sometime later and taken to hospital where he died in the early hours of 13 November 2015, on what would have been his 70th birthday.

The Fiesta was later recovered in the Heywood area and further enquiries into the car found that it had been, amongst other vehicles, linked to a number of commercial thefts and burglaries over the previous four months.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Crewe of Greater Manchester Police said: “This has been a very complex investigation, involving numerous offenders involved in a variety of offences but I am pleased to say that these men have finally been brought to justice.

“The day James Ray died he should have been celebrating his 70th birthday with his loved ones but instead he was taken from them as a result of a thoughtless act committed by Martin Ward Jnr, Patrick McDonagh and Patrick Cawley.

“Although it won’t bring James back, I hope the sentence passed today will bring his loved ones some form of closure and help them rebuild their lives.”