Wife of naked man in field found dead in campervan

Kilroy, 49, accused of strangling tragic Valerie to death as murder trial opens

- ALISON O'RIORDAN

A MAN was found naked in a field after he killed his wife, a court heard yesterday. 

On the first day of the trial a prosecutor said the jury would have to assess if James Kilroy was “simply guilty of murder” as the State contends – or if he had been insane or suffered from a mental disorder that diminished his responsibility.

Anne-Marie Lawlor, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said a mental disorder did not include intoxication and that was important in the case.

The jury heard Valerie French Kilroy’s body was found in a camper van on the grounds of her home in a remote rural area around 6km from Westport, Co Mayo.

She had died from strangulation with a ligature as well as blunt force trauma to the head and a stab wound to the neck.

Evidence will be given, said the lawyer, that Kilroy had been displaying “erratic behaviour”.

He was taken to Castlebar Hospital where he was assessed and later told gardai that he had “killed his wife and kids”. The three young children were later found unharmed. Patrick Gageby, defending Kilroy, made formal admissions to the court on behalf of his client.

These included that the accused killed his wife, that the crime scenes were all properly preserved by gardai, that the accused was at all stages appropriately detained – including any time spent in a garda station – and that gardai kept and retained all exhibits appropriately.

INSANITY