Accused knew of tank where body found, trial jury told
Patrick Quirke A MAN accused of murdering his alleged love rival knew of the existence of the tank where the deceased’s body was found two years after his disappearance, his trial heard.
Jimmy Lowry told the Central Criminal Court he grew up on the farm at Fawnagowan in Co Tipperary where 52-yearold Bobby Ryan’s body was found in 2013.
He said the tank was built in the late 1970s to take waste from his father’s milking parlour.
When asked by prosecutor David Humphries who knew about its existence, he replied: “As far as I know myself, my brother Johnny and Pat Quirke.”
Quirke, of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Ryan – a 52-year-old DJ known as Mr Moonlight – on a date
Jimmy Lowry between June 3, 2011 and April 2013.
Prosecutors claim the 50-year-old killed Mr Ryan so he could resume an earlier affair with Mary Lowry, 52.
She had started seeing Mr Ryan after her relationship with Quirke ended.
He went missing in June 2011 and his body was found in a run-off tank on the farm leased by the accused.
Ms Lowry’s son Tommy, 21, said the accused started farming his father’s land “more or less straight away” after he died.
He added at first Quirke wasn’t around much but as time went on he came to the house “a lot more and made himself at home”.
He said he didn’t feel Quirke belonged inside his home.
The trial continues in front of Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of six men and six women.