Courts / Tipperary / Report

'Mr Moonlight' murder appeal to be heard remotely

Date
2020-09-21
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Tipperary
County
Tipperary

Summary

Patrick Quirke, a 50‑year‑old farmer from Breanshamore, Co. Tipperary, is appealing his conviction for the murder of Bobby 'Mr Moonlight' Ryan, a 52‑year‑old part‑time DJ who vanished on 3 June 2011. The body was found in an underground run‑off tank on Ms Lowry's farm, leased by Quirke, in April 2013. Quirke denies the murder, arguing the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond suspicion and that Mary Lowry, the alleged witness, is unreliable. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty by a 10‑2 majority after 13 weeks of trial, and he received a mandatory life sentence. The Court of Appeal will hear his appeal remotely on 13 October, with both sides submitting over 100 pages of legal material. The hearing is expected to last less than four days, though the exact duration remains to be confirmed by the court. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome announced.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Mr Moonlight' murder appeal to be heard remotely. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Patrick Quirke

Appellant

Outcome: The farmer was given a mandatory life sentence by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.; The judge adjourned the matter for mention until today to allow both sides to consider each other's legal submissions for the appeal.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Central Criminal Court
Residence
Facility
  • Mary Lowry's house
  • Cliff House
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

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