Sean Ward’s death in synagogue attack should not taint COVID-19 lawsuit he and other ex-soldiers filed: lawyer

Sean Ward, the suspect who died in a shooting attack on a Belleville, Ont., synagogue, was involuntarily discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2022 when he was deemed “unsuitable for further service” after defying the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Photo by Doug Ward/Facebook

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The shocking death of Sean Ward in a shootout with police protecting a Belleville synagogue from his “hate-motivated” attack should not taint the public’s view of a large lawsuit he was part of against the Canadian military’s COVID-19 mandate, says his lawyer.

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“There is an obvious risk that intense public attention focused on one plaintiff may obscure the experiences of the many other military members and veterans involved in these proceedings,” Catherine Christensen, the lawyer for dozens of Canadian soldiers and former soldiers named in the lawsuit, told National Post.

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“The events in Belleville involving Sean Ward and police outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue were extremely serious. Our thoughts are with the injured police officer, the members of the congregation, and everyone affected,” she said.

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“Sean Ward was one individual claimant among a large number of serving and former CAF members who have sought legal remedies arising from the vaccination directives, the exemption and accommodation process, administrative measures, releases, and resulting career consequences.

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“The litigation did not originate with Mr. Ward, and its factual and legal foundation does not depend upon him.”

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Ward, 29, was involuntarily discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2022 when he was deemed “unsuitable for further service” after defying the military’s vaccine mandate during the pandemic, according to court documents. He was seeking $1.5 million in general damages and additional compensation for a financial loss of $140,000.

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He was one of 128 members and former members of the Canadian Forces who claimed their military careers were damaged or destroyed by a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

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The lawsuit describes Sean Douglas Reginald Ward as holding the rank of corporal in the infantry with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton. The lawsuit claims Ward refused to be vaccinated “on religious grounds” but his exemption was denied by military officials.

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“Beyond information contained in that (court) record, we will not discuss confidential communications relating to Mr. Ward or any other client,” Christensen said.

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“The circumstances surrounding Mr. Ward’s death remain the subject of investigation. Police have publicly stated their conclusions concerning the nature and apparent motive of the incident. Mr. Ward is deceased, those allegations will not be tested through a criminal trial, and it would be inappropriate to speculate about his intentions or state of mind,” she said.

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Belleville’s Chief of Police, Murray Rodd, said Ward came heavily armed with a shotgun, other undisclosed firearms, a significant amount of ammunition, containers of gasoline and additional resources in a planned attack on the synagogue where about 25 people had gathered for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.