Courts / Tipperary / Report

Farmer murdered "love rival DJ" and hid body in slurry pit, prosecution say

Summary

Patrick Quirke, aged 50, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52‑year‑old Bobby Ryan, a local DJ known as Mr Moonlight, between June 2011 and April 2013. Quirke, who had been in a secret affair with Mary Lowry since 2008, claimed that his relationship with Lowry ended in 2010 when she began dating Ryan. Quirke allegedly killed Ryan to regain his former relationship with Lowry. On 13 April 2013, Quirke discovered Ryan's naked body in a slurry tank, where it had been buried in a concrete sarcophagus. The post‑mortem revealed blunt‑force trauma and fractures to the skull, ribs and one leg. The prosecution, led by Michael Bowman SC, argued that Quirke had motive, opportunity and access to the tank, and that the discovery of the body was carefully staged. The trial is proceeding before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of twelve.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Farmer murdered "love rival DJ" and hid body in slurry pit, prosecution say. Charges or matters: the murder of 52-year-old Bobby Ryan on a date between June 3, 2011 and April 13, 2013. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 3, 2011 Other
• April 13, 2013 Other
• June 2 Other
• April 2013 Other
• July 1 Other
• April 13 Other
• 2019-01-23 Publication

Why: The accused, he said, had the motive and the opportunity and had access to the tank where the body was found. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report