Courts / Tipperary / Report

Evidence against Patrick Quirke no more than "suspicion", defence tell jury

Date
2019-04-16

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tipperary

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, defence barrister Bernard Condon SC argued that the evidence against Patrick Quirke, 50, amounted only to suspicion and was insufficient to prove he killed Bobby Ryan, a part‑time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Condon criticised the Garda investigation, claiming substandard evidence and failures such as not searching Mary Lowry's house, not videotaping the body's removal, and mishandling forensic items like a hair clip and maggots. He highlighted that Quirke's internet searches for DNA and body decomposition were general, not case‑specific, and that the prosecution's case required "enormous leaps." Condon urged the jury to start from the presumption of innocence, to scrutinise the weak evidence, and to acquit Quirke. The jury will return next Tuesday for the judge's charge before deliberation. Patrick Quirke pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Evidence against Patrick Quirke no more than "suspicion", defence tell jury. Charges or matters: the murder of Bobby Ryan, a part-time DJ known as Mr Moonlight. Procedural stage: trial

When: