Court hears poignant evidence about slain DJ, writes

FOR much of this trial, the focus has been fixed firmly on key witness Mary Lowry, her testimony and her relationships. This week, however, the spotlight shifted, at last, to the silenced, and most important, person at the centre of these proceedings – the deceased man, Bobby Ryan.

There were many witnesses called to courtroom 13 at the Central Criminal Court this week. The most poignant evidence, however, was that which focused on Bobby Ryan, the man.

For the first time, we heard what he was like – as a father, as a friend, as an employee, even as an ex-husband.

“Wow,” was the simple word used by his daughter, Michelle Ryan, to best describe him.

“Happy...always a bit of craic,” was how his son, Robert Junior, summed him up.

To his former wife, Mary Ryan, he had remained a friend, despite the ending of their marriage.

Likewise, he had remained a friend to his former partner Mary Glasheen after the end of their three-month relationship.

Even his boss at Killough Quarries, Niall Quinn, recalled him as a punctual and “perfect” employee.

For each, their grief was palpable at what had happened to Bobby, that fun-loving man who had recovered his zest for life in the devastating aftermath of the break-up of his marriage.

The man whose joint passions for music and dancing had been a fulcrum.

Mary Lowry’s son Tommy remembered him as being “a fun guy”, always trying to crack a joke. He had bought them remote-control cars at Christmas. Bobby had made his mother happy – and her children were happy that she was happy.

Pat Quirke (50) of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan (52), a DJ known as Mr Moonlight, on a date between June 3, 2011 and April 2013.

On Monday last, Mr Ryan’s children took to the stand to give evidence.

“He was a brilliant father with a great personality,” Michelle Ryan told the court.

Her parents split up when