Courts / Tipperary / Report

"Dispose of clothesphoneany other evidence": Moonlight trial hears of page indentations

Date
2019-03-13

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tipperary

Summary

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.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Dispose of clothesphoneany other evidence": Moonlight trial hears of page indentations. Charges or matters: the murder of part-time DJ Bobby Ryan. Procedural stage: trial

When:

June 3, 2011 Other
April 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
December 12 Hearing Or Sentence
January 2013 Other
July 3 Other
September 2013 Other
2019-03-13 Publication

Why: He explained that when a person is writing the pages below can develop indentations that may not be visible to the naked eye. CNI source report