Courts / Dublin / Report

What the jury didn't hear

Summary

In the Patrick Quirke trial, the jury was not allowed to hear certain audio recordings that the prosecution had found on Quirke's computer. The recordings included conversations between Quirke and his wife Imelda, between Quirke and Mary Lowry, and a conversation between Lowry and her boyfriend Flor Cantillon. The defence argued that the recordings would prejudice the jury by suggesting Quirke had "strange sexual proclivities," and Justice Eileen Creedon agreed, ruling them inadmissible. Only the conversation with Cantillon was played to the jury. Quirke's computer had also been used to search for articles about notorious Irish murders, including those of Joe O'Reilly, Siobhan Kearney, and Jo Jo Dollard. The defence said these searches were common and not relevant, and Justice Creedon ruled them inadmissible for being potentially prejudicial. A reenactment of a tank inspection that Quirke claimed to have seen was also ruled inadmissible as "frail.".

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: What the jury didn't hear. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Convicted

When:

• May 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 2004 Incident
• February 2006 Incident
• 2019-05-01 Publication

Why: The recordings were ruled as inadmissible because his defence team argued they would suggest to the jury that he had "strange sexual proclivities" and could prejudice them against him. Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Finding

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Read the original CNI report