Courts

James Kilroy murder trial adjourned due to ‘bump in the road’

Judge tells jury that matter unknown to all parties had arisen and more time was now needed

Mother of three Valerie French Kilroy was found dead at the house near Westport in June.

Alison O’Riordan
Wed Mar 15 2023 - 14:57

The murder trial of James Kilroy, who admits killing his wife Valerie at their rural Co Mayo home, has been adjourned until Monday as it has “unforeseeably come to a bump in the road”.

Park ranger Mr Kilroy (49), with an address at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo is charged with murdering mother of three Valerie French Kilroy (41) at their home on a date unknown between June 13th 2019 and June 14th 2019, both dates inclusive. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

After the trial was delayed for an hour on Wednesday morning, High Court judge Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told the jury of ten men and two women that a matter had arisen which had been unknown to all parties. 

“No one is at fault, it is not something that could have been foreseen or dealt with. It has led to both parties needing further time,” she said.

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Ms Justice Ring said the matter would not be resolved on Wednesday and asked the jury to return to court on Monday afternoon. “That will give all parties time to sort out the issues,” she continued.

The Chief State Pathologist has told the murder trial that occupational therapist Ms French Kilroy died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head and a stab wound to the neck.

Evidence has been given that gardaí found Valerie’s body lying in the foetal position on the floor of a campervan with her bloodied hand protruding outside the sliding door and a child’s car seat over her face.

Patrick Gageby SC, defending Mr Kilroy, has made a number of formal admissions to the court on behalf of his client including that he killed his wife Valerie.

The jury has heard that the defendant described to gardaí how he “waited in the long grass” at night for his wife to return home from a meeting with friends before silently carrying out a “dark and frenzied” attack.

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