Courts / Tipperary / Report

"Mary last one to see him": Moonlight trial hears of notes found in Patrick Quirke's home

Date
2019-03-12

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tipperary

Summary

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.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Mary last one to see him": Moonlight trial hears of notes found in Patrick Quirke's home. Procedural stage: trial

When:

May 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
June 3, 2011 Other
April 2013 Other
September 6, 2011 Other
September 7 Hearing Or Sentence
2019-03-12 Publication

Why: Mr Quirke told gardai that he opened the tank because he needed water to agitate slurry and believed there would be water in it because of the leak some weeks earlier. CNI source report