James Kilroy trial hears psychiatric evidence about drug-induced psychosis

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

James Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, at their Co Mayo home in 2019. The jury at the Central Criminal Court has been told that he accepts he killed her. The proceedings were reported on 18 July 2024.

Psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney told the trial that Kilroy was likely suffering from drug-induced psychosis when he killed his wife. He said Kilroy believed she was involved in a plot to torture and kill him, did not understand that what he was doing was wrong and was unable to refrain from his actions. Valerie French Kilroy died from strangulation, blunt force trauma and a stab wound to the neck.

Dr Mullaney said cannabis use had likely led to the psychosis, but that it would have been difficult for Kilroy to foresee that he would become so disordered that he would kill his wife. He agreed that Kilroy had disregarded medical advice given after a psychiatric admission in 2001 that he must abstain from drug use.

On 18 July, prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC questioned Dr Mullaney about his omission from his report of contractor Walter Moran’s evidence that Kilroy had appeared normal shortly before the killing. Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the evidence was relevant. Dr Mullaney denied selecting only material that supported his conclusion, saying someone developing psychosis could appear rational for short periods. He said he would probably include the evidence if writing the report again.

Dr Mullaney said a blood test after Kilroy’s arrest was negative for cannabis, suggesting he had not smoked for at least a week. He agreed, however, that synthetic cannabis would not show up in the test and that it was impossible to know whether Kilroy had used it during that period. He also agreed that Kilroy was an unreliable historian who had given differing accounts of his alcohol use.

Following Dr Mullaney’s evidence, the prosecution called consultant psychiatrist Professor Harry Kennedy. His evidence was due to continue before the judge and jury.