During a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes testified that a garda involved in the investigation of Bobby Ryan's disappearance had made a note in his notebook stating, "Mary Lowry had his head melted." Hayes could not recall who made the remark. Ryan, a 52‑year‑old part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, vanished on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's house at 6:30 am. His body was discovered 22 months later in April 2013 in a run‑off tank on a farm owned by Lowry and leased by Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old man from Breanshamore, Tipperary. The prosecution alleges Quirke murdered Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, but Quirke has pleaded not guilty.
The trial of farmer Patrick Quirke, 50, for the alleged murder of Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Quirke, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution alleges he murdered Ryan to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry. Ryan went missing in June 2011 and his body was found in an underground tank on a farm leased by Quirke in April 2013. Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes, testifying for the defence, stated that injuries to Ryan's body were not caused by debris falling when the concrete lid covering the tank was removed. He confirmed that only minor debris fell and that the detachment of Ryan's arm was the only damage sustained during removal. Hayes also testified that Quirke has no previous convictions and is not suspected of other crimes, noting that prior burglary charges were withdrawn by the DPP. The cross-examination covered various investigative details, including the timing of phone masts, the examination of Lowry's home, and the handling of fingerprints and phone data. Hayes acknowledged that fingerprints from Ryan's van were not tested against Quirke's until recently, attributing this to a responsibility issue at Garda headquarters. He also noted that the Deputy State Pathologist did not attend the scene, which he stated had no negative impact on the examination. The matter was adjourned, with cross-examination to continue before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
Mary Lowry's son, 19‑year‑old Jack Lowry, testified at the Central Criminal Court that Pat Quirke, 50, was "in control most of the time, grumpy some of the time" and that he moved around his mother's farm as if he owned it. Lowry's son described his relationship with Quirke's family, noting that Quirke leased the farm from his mother and that Quirke's children were known to the family. He recalled his mother's affair with Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, who disappeared on 3 June 2011 after leaving the Lowry home. Ryan's body was found in an underground run‑off tank on the farm 22 months later. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle the affair. Lowry's son also recounted his own childhood memories of the farm, the family's travels, and his limited recollection of the day Ryan went missing. The trial is ongoing, with the court presided over by Justice Eileen Creedon. Pat Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In a long‑running High Court action over the 1996 award of Ireland's second mobile‑phone licence to Esat Digifone, several pretrial motions have been filed. The plaintiffs – Comcast International Holdings Inc, Ganley International Ltd, GCI Ltd and businessman Declan Ganley – argue that the licence was improperly awarded and that the selection process was corrupt and flawed. They seek damages and are requesting the discovery of documents and records from the defendants, which include the Minister for Public Enterprise, the State, businessman Denis O'Brien and former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry. The defendants deny the allegations and oppose the discovery on the grounds that it is onerous and largely dates back to the mid‑1990s. The discovery motions were opened before Mr Justice Senan Allen on Tuesday, with the hearing expected to last several days. The case remains ongoing.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Fiona Maguire presented evidence that fingerprints recovered from a black diary and a driving licence taken from Bobby Ryan's van did not match those of the accused, Patrick Quirke. The prints were collected in 2013, after Ryan's body was found in an underground tank in April 2013. Maguire identified five marks on the diary and two palm marks on the licence, four of which belonged to Ryan's daughter Michelle; the remaining marks could not be identified. None matched Quirke's prints, and a national database search yielded no match. Detective Ernie Fraser also reported that fingerprints taken in 2012 from an aftershave bottle and the driver's door in the van likewise did not match Quirke. Quirke, 50, has pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder.
In March 2019 the Central Criminal Court heard that Mary Lowry, aged 52, visited a psychic in Nenagh after her boyfriend Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan disappeared on 3 June 2011. Ryan's body was found in an underground run‑off tank on Lowry's farm in Fawnagown, Tipperary, 22 months later in April 2013. Patrick Quirke, 50, is charged with Ryan's murder and has pleaded not guilty. Quirke allegedly called Lowry a "right bitch" and threatened to remove her from a Mass for his son. Evidence from Acting State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis suggested the most likely cause of Ryan's injuries was impact with a vehicle, but the pathology evidence was described as "sub‑optimal". The trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, a hard drive seized from Patrick Quirke's home yielded a recording of Mary Lowry speaking with Flor Cantillon, the man who began seeing her after Bobby Ryan vanished. The audio, played by Detective Sergeant John Keane, shows Lowry laughing while reading a newspaper article about cross‑dressing, and Cantillon asking her about a verdict. Lowry confirmed the tape was of her and Cantillon, denied making or authorising the recording, and stated she was unaware of being recorded. She also testified that she had allowed her three children to be interviewed by Gardaí in 2013 after Bobby Ryan's body was found, and that she had not been permitted to attend the interview. The court heard that Quirke had expressed disapproval of Lowry's relationship with Ryan and had reported her to Tusla for allegedly leaving her children alone. The trial continues with further testimony from Lowry's brother, Eddie Quigley. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In the ongoing trial of Patrick Quirke, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of part-time DJ Bobby Ryan, Professor Jack Crane provided expert pathologist evidence. Crane, a former State Pathologist for Northern Ireland, reviewed the post-mortem conducted by Dr. Khalid Jaber, who was unavailable to testify. He confirmed that Ryan died from blunt force trauma to the head, causing brain bleeding, with injuries including skull fractures, nine rib fractures, and a femur fracture. Crane stated these severe head injuries could not have resulted from a simple fall into the tank where the body was found 22 months after Ryan went missing in June 2011. He rejected the possibility of a motor vehicle collision, noting the injury pattern was inconsistent with such an impact. Crane also testified that it was plausible the body was placed rather than thrown into the sealed tank, citing the unnatural position of the arms and limited insect infestation. During cross-examination, Crane criticized aspects of Dr. Jaber's report, including incorrect assumptions about toxicity and insufficient examination of the skull. He noted that concrete fragments fell on the body during recovery, which he had not previously known about. The trial continues, with no verdict or sentence recorded at this stage.
A forensic anthropologist giving evidence at the Central Criminal Court has expressed doubt that a fractured femur found on the remains of Bobby Ryan could have resulted from concrete debris falling during the body's removal from a tank. Dr Rene Gapert, examining bones retrieved from an underground run-off tank on a farm at Fawnagown, County Tipperary, identified human and animal remains among the fragments. He told the court the femur, being the body's strongest bone, was unlikely to have sustained such an injury from the falling concrete when gardaí used a digger to remove a slab covering the tank. Mr Ryan's body was discovered in April 2013, approximately 22 months after he went missing in June 2011. Patrick Quirke, aged 50, of Breanshamore, County Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to his murder. The trial, before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury, continues.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Quirke, aged 50, denied claims that he tried to exploit Mary Lowry, a 52‑year‑old widow, for financial gain. Quirke, who is charged with the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, explained that his financial dealings with Lowry involved tens of thousands of euros, including a €20,000 loan and a €50,000 cheque that he denied Lowry ever issued. He described a long‑running affair with Lowry from 2008 to 2010, noting that he was angry when she began a relationship with Ryan but denied jealousy. Quirke also detailed his rental of Lowry's farm, payments received from EU subsidies, and his investment in contracts for difference, claiming he managed the money responsibly. He maintained that Lowry was not vulnerable and that any financial arrangements were mutual. The case remains pending before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
Patrick Quirke, aged 50, told a social worker that Mary Lowry, aged 52, was leaving her three children unsupervised for long periods on weekends, mainly from 4 pm until early morning, for about three months. He said the children were being left alone while Lowry spent time with a new boyfriend, and that Lowry had been widowed three‑and‑a‑half years earlier. Quirke described Lowry as having "lost the run of herself" and being fixated on the relationship, failing to consider the children's needs. He also noted that Lowry's grandmother, who lived next door, was not asked to look after the children. Quirke advised the social worker to call the Gardaí if there were immediate concerns and said he would open a report. The witness also reported that Quirke had called Lowry's home unannounced on 10 February, found a man who did not identify himself, and that a colleague made a second visit. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, it was revealed that Mary Lowry's computer was used to search for Bobby Ryan's name the day before his body was recovered from a tank on her land. The computer, handed to Garda Cyber Crime Bureau detective Paul Fitzpatrick in May 2015, showed a search for "trace Ireland Bobby Ryan" at 21:45 on 29 April 2013. Mr. Ryan's body was found the following day by the accused, Patrick Quirke, who is 50 and pleaded not guilty to the murder. Mr. Ryan had gone missing on 3 June 2011 after leaving Lowry's home, and his body was discovered 22 months later in an underground run‑off tank on the farm owned by Lowry and leased by Quirke. The prosecution alleged that Quirke killed Mr. Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, who is 52.
In March 2019 the Central Criminal Court heard that a computer seized from Patrick Quirke's home was used to search Google for "rate of human decomposition" in December 2012, 18 months after Bobby Ryan disappeared and four months before Ryan's body was found on land leased by Quirke. The search led to articles titled "The five stages of decomposition" and "How the human body decomposes after death," and to YouTube videos about body farms. The court also heard that Quirke, aged 50, sent emails to Vodafone.ie on 12 and 13 May 2013 requesting call and text logs for 2–5 June 2011. Quirke has pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, which the prosecution alleges he committed to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, aged 52. The evidence presented was part of the ongoing trial before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
In the Central Criminal Court, the prosecution presented evidence that an anonymous text message sent to Mary Lowry after her boyfriend Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan went missing accused her of hiding something and threatened to watch her until she cracked. Garda Tony O'Brien detailed call logs from phones linked to Ryan and the accused, Patrick Quirke, and also from Lowry's phone, revealing the text in September 2011. The court heard that Ryan's body, found in an underground tank on Lowry's farm in 2013, had multiple fractures from at least four impacts, possibly from a road traffic accident or blunt blows. Dr Anthony Ryan's CT scan indicated severe head, facial, rib and femur injuries requiring significant force. Quirke, 50, pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, while the trial continues before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In the moonlit trial of Patrick Quirke, a garda documents and handwriting expert examined an A4 page found in Quirke's home. Using an electrostatic detection device, the expert revealed indentations that, when developed, showed a series of fragmented notes. The visible text included phrases such as "dispose of clothes phone any other evidence," "Murdered poss in house," "Mary walk kids to school?" and "Mary had to see him, be with him." The expert noted that some indentations could have come from multiple pages and that extensive cross‑writing made it impossible to determine the exact number of notes. Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to the murder of part‑time DJ Bobby Ryan, who disappeared in 2011 and whose body was found in 2013. The trial also heard from solicitor Aidan Leahy, who represented Ms Lowry in 2012 regarding the termination of Quirke's lease on her land.
During a 2013 search of Patrick Quirke's home, Garda John Walsh found a handwritten note on an A‑4 sheet that mentioned Mary Lowry and the disappearance of Bobby Ryan. The note, which was underlined and read "Mary last one to see him" and "body naked, either murdered and clothes taken off or never left the house," also contained a series of questions directed at Mary Lowry about her actions on the day of Ryan's disappearance. Quirke, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder. Ryan vanished on 3 June 2011 after leaving Lowry's home and was found in an underground run‑off tank in April 2013. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry, who is 52. The trial, before Justice Eileen Creedon and a twelve‑person jury, has also heard testimony about a hotel booking made under Quirke's name and the seizure of various electronic devices and physical evidence from Quirke's property.
Gardai seized computers, documents, a Ford pick‑up and trailer from Patrick Quirke's property less than three weeks after DJ Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan's body was found in an underground run‑off tank on a farm owned by Ms Lowry and leased by Quirke. Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder. He had asked the Garda to show the warrant, after which he told them the media were wrong about finding Ryan's clothes and wallet in the tank and asked how Ryan died, to which the Garda replied they could not tell him. The search, authorised by a warrant from Tipperary District Court, began at 9.30 am and ended at 4.45 pm, with items seized from both the house and surrounding land. The trial, heard by Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve, continues.
Ross Outram, aged 28, was found guilty of murdering 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons, who was discovered dead in his own home. A jury of eight men and four women rejected Outram's claim that he struck Lyons in self‑defence after the pensioner, who had osteoporosis and only one arm, allegedly attacked him with a stick. The trial heard that Lyons' body lay slumped in his armchair, with blood smeared on his face and his penis exposed through his underpants. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck from a blunt weapon, with fractures of his hip joint, jawbone and ribs. Outram, who has 25 previous convictions including burglary and assault, was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory term for murder, with the sentence back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The court noted that the jury had taken three hours and 29 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the murder trial of Ross Outram, a 28‑year‑old from Ferryland, the jury requested a re‑hear of evidence from two pathologists and to view clothing belonging to both the accused and the 90‑year‑old deceased farmer, Paddy Lyons. The jury had deliberated for 2 h 29 min and, after a note from the foreman, asked to see a grey hoodie that Outram owned and a grey hat that belonged to Lyons. Forensic scientist John Hoade testified that the hoodie had blood matching Lyons' DNA. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC highlighted that Outram had claimed Lyons was alive when he left the house, citing a grey hat found near Lyons' fireplace. The jury also sought to re‑hear Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster's findings on Lyons' injuries and a defence pathologist's report. They requested a picture of blood staining at Lyons' front door. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations on the case of 28‑year‑old Ross Outram, who is accused of murdering 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons in his Waterford home between 23 and 26 February 2017. Outram, of Ferryland, has pleaded not guilty. The judge explained that the jury could return one of four verdicts: guilty of murder; not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter; not guilty of murder but guilty of assault causing harm; or not guilty. The jury has spent over an hour and a quarter considering the case and will report in the afternoon. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described Lyons' death as caused by blunt‑force trauma, a traumatic brain injury and shock from fractures of the hip, jawbone and ribs. Evidence was presented that Lyons had a stiff right shoulder and that Outram claimed he had fought back after Lyons struck him with a walking stick and shovel.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury is set to begin deliberations on the murder trial of Ross Outram, 28, accused of killing 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons in his Lismore home between 23 and 26 February 2017. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster described Lyons' death as caused by blunt‑force trauma, a traumatic brain injury, and shock from fractures of his hip, jawbone and ribs. Lyons' body was found blood‑stained in his armchair. Outram claimed he fought back after Lyons struck him with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had taken up to 100 Xanax that day, though a pharmaceutical expert found no proof of this. The defence argued self‑defence, while the prosecution highlighted inconsistencies in Outram's statements. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Ross Outram, a 28‑year‑old from Clonmel, the defence argued that the 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons was alive and mobile when Outram left his home. The defence presented evidence that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck, but that his death was caused by a second event – a fall that broke his hip. The defence claimed that the fall was likely due to a head injury or concussion, not the initial assault. They also highlighted that Outram had taken up to 100 Xanax that day, though a pharmaceutical expert found no proof of this. The defence urged the jury to consider that Outram's force may have been necessary and that he could be found not guilty of murder but possibly guilty of manslaughter. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, continued to charge the jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Ivor Hanrahan testified that he prescribed anti‑depressants to Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer, to aid sleep after Quirke complained of stress over an affair with Mary Lowry, who was 52. Quirke, charged with the murder of part‑time DJ Bobby Ryan, was described by the doctor as "upset and quite hurt" about Lowry's relationship with Ryan. Hanrahan explained that he initially offered medication for sleep disturbance, later prescribing Mirtazapine after a counsellor's referral. He noted Quirke's ongoing distress and that Quirke had stopped taking the medication. The doctor also discussed Quirke's admission of an affair with Lowry, which he believed had ended when Lowry began a relationship with another man. The testimony was presented to prosecution counsel Michael Bowman SC. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons, who died after a violent attack at his home between 23 and 26 February 2017. The prosecution, led by John O'Kelly SC, argued that Outram inflicted multiple blows with a blunt weapon, describing the assault as vicious and sustained, and that the victim's death was caused by these injuries. They highlighted that Outram had no evidence of taking Xanax and that the victim's hip injury was unrelated to the attack. Outram's defence, represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, contended that the fatal hip fracture was a separate event, arguing that if causation was doubtful, the client could not be guilty of murder. The case remains at the trial stage, with the jury to hear further arguments tomorrow.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Ross Outram, 28, of Clonmel, Co Tipperary, has heard evidence from a defence pathologist regarding the death of Paddy Lyons. Mr Outram has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Lyons at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford, between February 23 and 26, 2017. Former Northern Ireland State Pathologist Professor Jack Crane testified that he favours the possibility that Mr Lyons' hip fracture resulted from a fall rather than a blunt weapon blow. Professor Crane noted that Mr Lyons suffered from osteoporosis, making his bones more susceptible to fracture, and stated that the scalp lacerations were not associated with underlying skull injury. He added that the brain injury was slight and that any suggestion of concussion was speculative. While the prosecution's pathologist previously attributed the death to blunt force trauma, Professor Crane agreed that the deceased could have been assaulted and subsequently fallen. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
The trial of Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, continued at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecution witness Gary Cunningham testified that in 2013, after Ryan's body was discovered in a tank on land leased by the accused, Quirke asked him if he had heard any rumours. Cunningham stated Quirke then mentioned a rumour that a 'Polish group' was involved. Under cross-examination, Cunningham acknowledged a general rumour existed but could not recall hearing it from anyone other than Quirke. Another witness, Emmett Kenny, who worked on Quirke's farm from 2009, testified that he knew of the tank where the body was found, believing it to be an old septic tank. Kenny noted that cattle walked on the concrete slabs covering it without issue. He also recalled Quirke leaving for the bank holiday weekend when Ryan went missing in June 2011. The prosecution alleges Quirke murdered Ryan to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry. The trial is ongoing before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury.
In the trial of Ross Outram, 28, of Clonmel, the prosecution has closed its case. Outram is accused of murdering 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons in his Lismore home between 23 and 26 February 2017. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to the head and neck from a blunt weapon, resulting in blunt force trauma, a traumatic brain injury, fractures of the hip joint, jawbone and ribs, and shock. She described haemorrhage and nerve fibre shearing, indicating significant force. While she could not definitively state whether Lyons had a concussion, she noted that brain function would likely have been altered. The trial will continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
Wayne O'Dwyer, aged 30, pleaded guilty to robbery at the Eurogiant store in Carrick‑on‑Suir on 31 March 2016. He threatened a female shop assistant, demanding €250 and the till, and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended by Judge Thomas Teehan on 15 December 2017. O'Dwyer's lawyers argued the judge sought to make an example of him because of the perceived rise in violent crime in the town. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice John Edwards, rejected this claim, stating the judge was entitled to consider general deterrence as a sentencing objective and that the sentence was not disproportionate. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the seven‑year headline sentence with a three‑year suspended portion and the effective custody term as imposed.
In the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons. The jury heard that Outram claimed to have suffered lumps on his head after being struck by Lyons with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had taken up to 100 Xanax tablets that day. Gardaí at Dungarvan station did not photograph the head lumps, nor did they take a urine sample, as four days had passed. The defence argued the investigation was "tunnel‑visioned" and did not examine the head injuries. The prosecution presented evidence that Lyons suffered multiple blows to the head and neck, and that his body was found slumped in his armchair. DNA from Lyons was found on the shovel, but no DNA from Outram was found in Lyons' house. The trial was set to continue the next day.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, who disappeared on 3 June 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's home. Quirke told Gardaí he feared Lowry, describing her as "vicious" and "verbally abusive", and claimed his only crime was an affair with her. He said he did not kill Ryan and that someone else was responsible. Quirke gave voluntary cautioned statements at Tipperary Garda Station on 16 May and 21 May 2013, detailing his movements on the day Ryan vanished and when he discovered Ryan's body in a tank on Lowry's farm. He explained he avoided Lowry because he feared her, and that he had been shocked when he saw the body. The court heard Quirke's statements and his account of his relationship with Lowry, including an affair that began in 2008 and ended after Lowry's husband died in 2007.
In the trial of Ross Outram, a 28‑year‑old from Clonmel, the jury heard that he claimed to have "fought back" after a 90‑year‑old retired farmer, Paddy Lyons, was found beaten to death in his home. Outram told Gardaí that he had gone to Lyons' house looking for money, but denied any intent to murder or seriously harm Lyons. He said Lyons had struck him with a walking stick and shovel, and that he had not killed Lyons, who he claimed was still alive when he left the house. A pathologist testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck, and his body was found slumped in his armchair. The case was presented to the Central Criminal Court on the sixth day of the trial, with the jury hearing medical evidence and Outram's statements from several Garda interviews. The unnamed 90-year-old pleaded not guilty.
In the Patrick Quirke murder trial, Detective Garda Kieran Keane, the exhibits officer, testified that he does not recall being told about a lady's hair clip taken from the underground tank where DJ Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan's body was found. Keane, appointed in 2011 after Ryan's disappearance, explained his role in securing exhibits and tracking them via an exhibits chart. Item 33 on the chart originally listed a bag of cable ties and pipe covers, later updated after a forensic examination to include the hair clip. Garda Larry Stapleton claimed he had bagged the clip and handed it to Keane, but did not write the contents on the bag. The defense argued that the chart shown to them omitted the clip, while the prosecution noted the chart was amended in January 2019 to reflect the clip's presence. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Ross Outram, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Paddy Lyons at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford, between February 23 and 26, 2017. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that she found the 90-year-old victim slumped in an armchair with blood smeared on his face. Her post-mortem examination revealed ten blunt force wounds to the head and neck, fractured ribs, and a fractured right hip. She concluded the cause of death was blunt force trauma resulting in traumatic brain injury and shock. Under cross-examination, Dr Bolster stated it was impossible to determine the sequence of blows and that the brain injury alone would not have caused death, though untreated scalp lacerations likely would have. Pharmaceutical expert Michael Lyons testified that there was no physical evidence proving Outram consumed the 60 xanax tablets he claimed to have taken, noting the absence of withdrawal symptoms after his arrest. However, the expert acknowledged that high doses of xanax could cause a paradoxical effect. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
The trial of Patrick Quirke (50) and Hilary Clarke, both accused of the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight, continued before Justice Eileen Creedon. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder. Forensic scientist Dr Martina McBride testified that she found no evidence of a serious assault in Mary Lowry's home, the last location where Mr Ryan was seen alive. Although initial tests indicated presumptive positive results for blood, further analysis revealed these were likely fly faeces or other non-human substances. McBride noted that while she expected significant blood loss given the injuries to Mr Ryan, the absence of evidence may be due to the passage of time and the house being painted. A small DNA spot was found but could not be identified as blood or attributed to a specific individual. Dr Hilary Clarke confirmed the identity of the body found in a farm tank by matching DNA from a tooth with that of Mr Ryan's children. She also examined two lump hammers, finding male DNA on one handle, but successfully eliminated Mr Ryan, his son, and Quirke as the source. The trial is ongoing, with the matter not yet finalised.
Rosemary Jones, 49, of Ballygraigue, Nenagh, was convicted of forgery and criminal damage to her landlords' property after a strained landlord‑tenant relationship in 2014. She pleaded guilty and received a two‑year sentence for forgery and a consecutive three‑year sentence for criminal damage in March 2018. The judge noted she had not paid rent for an extended period and that the forgery involved a signature on a Rent Supplement Review Form, with no financial gain. Criminal damage included damage to kitchen furniture, a door, household items, a shower, walls and skirting boards, estimated at €10,000. The Court of Appeal found the five‑year aggregate sentence excessive, re‑sentencing her to two years imprisonment with the final six months suspended, and a concurrent 12‑month sentence for forgery. She must enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period and for two years after release.
In the trial of Patrick Quirke, the Central Criminal Court heard that Gardai had found blood stains in the sitting room and bedroom of Mary Lowry's home. Retired detective John Grant testified that the stains were sent to forensic laboratories for analysis. The evidence was presented as part of the case against Quirke, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan. The prosecution alleges that Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with Lowry. Grant described the layout of Lowry's house and the forensic work that identified blood on a light fitting, the ceiling, bed frame, mattress, floor and inside a wardrobe. He also noted that no positive results were found on the accused's vehicle or on eight out-buildings on the farm. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
A DNA profile from blood on a hoodie belonging to a murder suspect matched that of 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons. The jury heard that pieces of broken glass recovered from Lyons' gateway fit perfectly into the headlamp of Ross Outram's car. Outram, 28, of Ferryland, has pleaded not guilty to Lyons' murder, which occurred at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, between 23 and 26 February 2017. Garda Eugene O'Neill testified that he searched Outram's house on 27 February and seized a grey hoodie. Forensic scientist John Hoade confirmed that blood on the hoodie's right sleeve and hood matched Lyons' DNA. Other evidence included broken glass from a car light, a damaged lock, and a Volkswagen Passat with missing front lights and registration plates. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the sentence of Donal O'Hara. O'Hara, 26, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at The Towers, Saggart, on June 9, 2015. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. The DPP argues this sentence is "unduly lenient," with counsel Shane Costelloe SC describing the incident as a "gang of thugs accosting" the victim and characterizing O'Hara as "muscle." Defense counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argued that O'Hara's prompt guilty plea warranted elevated status and distinguished his role from other participants. Those included Dessie O'Hare, who pleaded guilty to the same offences and is awaiting sentence; Declan Duffy, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years imprisonment; and Daniel Kane, who pleaded guilty and received five years imprisonment with the final year suspended. The court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, heard that Duffy's sentence was "capped" at six years. The matter remains adjourned pending the court's decision on whether to increase O'Hara's term.
Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, a part‑time DJ, was found dead in a disused waste water tank on a farm in Fawnagown, Tipperary, in April 2013 after he had gone missing in June 2011. A post‑mortem by former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber, conducted shortly after the body was discovered, identified multiple injuries that could have resulted from an accident, traffic collision or serious assault. Dr Jaber was not available to testify at the Central Criminal Court trial of Patrick Quirke, who is charged with Ryan's murder. Superintendent Patrick O'Callaghan, present at the post‑mortem, noted that the body was removed from the tank without a pathologist on site, and that the deceased's arm had detached at some point before or during removal. The trial continues with Quirke pleading not guilty. The prosecution alleges Quirke killed Ryan to rekindle an affair with the farm's owner, Mary Lowry.
In a trial at the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons, who died between 23 and 26 February 2017 at his Loughleagh home. Detective Garda Joe Wyse testified that he visited the scene on 25 February after learning of suspicious circumstances. He described a damaged padlock, skid marks, fingermarks on the front door, and a blood‑like substance around these marks. He also noted a deep laceration on Lyons' head and an elderly man slumped in a chair. Wyse observed a phone and kitchen windows with similar blood‑like residue. He also reported injuries on Outram's hands and thigh, photographed at the Garda station. Other Garda evidence included a fingerprint in blood on the door handle, blood on a plate, and a blue Volkswagen Passat with damage and no number plates. The case continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Ross Outram, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons in Lismore, Waterford, between 23 and 26 February 2017. During the trial, Sandra Walsh, a relative of Outram's nephew, testified that Outram had called her on Facebook Messenger on 26 February, claiming he had hit Lyons because Lyons would not give him money. She confirmed that Outram identified the deceased as Lyons and that he had spoken of travelling to the UK. Walsh also recounted that Outram was arrested the following day when she was driving him back to Ferryland. Sergeant Ger Falvey described the scene at Lyons' house, noting the victim's lack of trousers, a trail of urine, soot, and possible blood marks. The case proceeds before Mr Justice Paul Coffey with a jury of eight men and four women.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick Quirke (50) pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby "Mr Moonlight" Ryan, a part‑time DJ who vanished on 3 June 2011. Ryan's body was discovered in an underground run‑off tank on Quirke's farm at Fawnagown, Tipperary, in April 2013. Garda Gerry Canty, a crime scene examiner, testified that he visited the site the day after the body was found and photographed items removed from the tank, including bone fragments, a lady's hair clip, cable ties, tubing, buttons and pipe covers. He placed these items in a tamper‑evident bag and marked them as exhibits. Canty admitted he had not mentioned the hair clip in his initial statement or notes, and that the exhibit chart for the defence listed only cable ties and pipe covers. He also confirmed he had no role in retrieving, bagging, marking or charting the bag's contents.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Ross Outram (28) is accused of killing 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons in Waterford. Cathleen Kiely, a witness who has sold second‑hand clothes for over 30 years, testified that she visited Lyons' home on 24 February 2017, arriving with her husband around 4 p.m. She found the gate closed but without a bolt, entered the house, and saw Lyons sitting in his chair, looking at the door. Kiely claimed she thought Lyons was unconscious and swollen, and that there was black on the ground, but she did not realise he was dead. She left after a few seconds, told her husband, and later reported the situation to neighbours. The prosecution alleges Outram told Gardaí that he struck Lyons, who had only one arm, in self‑defence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women. Ross Outram pleaded not guilty.
During the murder trial of 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, forensic entomologist Dr John Manlove testified that the tank containing the remains of DJ Bobby Ryan was opened weeks before Quirke claimed to have found the body on 30 April 2013. Dr Manlove identified common blow fly larvae in Ryan's chest cavity and on his back, all at the same developmental stage, indicating infestation at least 11 days before discovery. He noted that the small number of larvae and absence of other insects suggested the body was not exposed for long. An engineer's report, shown to him, stated the tank would be sealed by two concrete slabs, and that muck and cow waste placed over the slabs would prevent flies from entering or exiting. Dr Manlove concluded that the tank was opened earlier than Quirke's stated date, contradicting the accused's account. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In the Central Criminal Court, Superintendent Patrick O'Callaghan testified that upon inspecting the underground run‑off tank at Fawnagown, Tipperary, he believed the body found there was that of Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. He described how he first saw the outline of a body, then knelt and used a torch to confirm it was Ryan, concluding the man had been murdered or severely assaulted before being placed in the tank. O'Callaghan stated he had visited the site on 30 April 2013 after reports of a body and declared the area a crime scene. The accused, 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, has pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, alleged to have been committed to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry. The trial proceeds before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.
Ross Outram, 28, of Clonmel, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons at Lismore, Waterford, between 23 and 26 February 2017. The trial began at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul Coffey and a jury of eight men and four women, and is expected to last two weeks. Prosecutor John O'Kelly SC presented evidence that Lyons was found dead in his home with blunt‑force injuries, a traumatic brain injury, haemorrhage and shock, and that his hip joint and ribs were fractured. A blood‑stained hoodie found in Outram's bedroom contained Lyons's DNA. Outram told investigators he had been in Lyons's house, had asked for money, and that Lyons attacked him with a stick. Outram claimed he struck Lyons repeatedly in self‑defence, and that Lyons was still alive when he left the house, after which Lyons was locked out.
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Quirke, aged 50, told Garda Conor Ryan that his farm at Fawnagowan had only two slurry tanks. Ryan, who visited the farm in June 2011, observed Quirke emptying a slatted‑floor cattle shed tank and an open tank containing a small quantity of slurry. Quirke confirmed there were no other tanks. The court heard that Quirke is charged with the murder of DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, who was found in an underground run‑off tank on the farm in April 2013. Quirke pleaded not guilty. Garda Ryan described the scene on the day the body was discovered, noting a vacuum tanker with a neutral handle and a heavily crusted slurry tank. He also recounted moving the tanker and emptying about 100 litres of soiled water onto the ground. The trial continued with Justice Eileen Creedon presiding and a jury of twelve.
In the trial of 50‑year‑old farmer Patrick Quirke, the defence presented the account of retired Garda Tony Chearnley, who operated an excavator to remove a concrete slab from the underground tank where DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan's body was discovered on 30 April 2013. Chearnley explained that the slab had a pre‑existing crack and that, when pulled, it broke into many small pieces that fell into the tank. He reported no loud noises, no dust, and no pandemonium or panic among the Gardaí present. Chearnley admitted the concrete breaking up was "not ideal" but said it was the best he could do. Quirke, who pleaded not guilty to Ryan's murder, is on trial before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve. The prosecution alleges the murder was committed to rekindle an affair with Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, aged 52. The trial continues this afternoon.
Patrick Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, pleaded not guilty to the murder of DJ Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, who disappeared between June 2011 and April 2013. Ryan's body was found in a run‑off tank on a farm leased by Quirke and owned by his former lover, Mary Lowry, 52. Quirke told gardai that he discovered the body while trying to empty the tank, describing it as a "body" with a pelvis and private area face‑down. He denied any jealousy or animosity toward Ryan, claimed he had no role in the body's placement, and said he only knew of Ryan's disappearance from Lowry's statements. Quirke also expressed that Lowry had a "couldn't care less attitude" about Ryan's disappearance. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.
In the trial for the murder of DJ Bobby Ryan, the accused farmer Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged Quirke killed Ryan to regain the attention of Ryan's girlfriend, Mary Lowry, with whom Quirke had previously had an affair. Inspector Padraic Powell, the first garda on the scene, noted that Quirke was "extremely clean" despite having worked with slurry that morning, and that Quirke's hands and clothes were clean. Quirke's wife, Imelda, had called the garda on the day the body was found, and Quirke was instructed not to touch anything. Quirke had previously given statements to the garda about his lease on Lowry's land and his relationship with her. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon with a jury of twelve.