QUIRKE'S BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS MARY WAS CRUCIAL TO MURDER

Defence barrister claims DPP relied on ‘tittle tattle’ in trial. Relationship with lover very relevant, argues prosecution.

- EOIN REYNOLDS

EVIDENCE of Pat Quirke’s bad behaviour towards Mary Lowry was necessary to set the context for the murder of Bobby Ryan, the prosecution argued yesterday.

Quirke’s appeal against his conviction has previously heard from his lawyers who asserted the trial was rendered unfair by evidence showing him taking underwear off Ms Lowry’s washing line and suggestions from gardai he had “cash on demand and sex on demand” from the widow.

Bernard Condon SC, for Quirke, also argued the prosecution relied on “tittle tattle” and overemphasised the importance of Ms Lowry’s claims that Quirke was “controlling”.

Quirke, 51, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, was convicted last year of the murder of popular DJ and father-of-two Bobby “Mr Moonlight” Ryan at Fawnagowan in the county.

Mr Ryan disappeared on June 3, 2011 after he left Ms Lowry’s home early in the morning.

The 52-year-old’s badly decomposed body was discovered in a disused underground tank on April 30, 2013, on farmland owned by Ms Lowry and leased by Quirke.

Ms Lowry had previously had an affair with Quirke and the prosecution said he murdered Bobby Ryan so he could rekindle the relationship.

Michael Bowman SC, for the DPP, yesterday said the defence had suggested that all the jury needed to know about the affair between Quirke and Ms Lowry was contained in an agony aunt letter he wrote to the Dear Patricia column in The Sunday Independent outlining the romance and its subsequent breakdown.