Courts

Garda made note saying ‘Mary Lowry had his head melted’

Chief Supt told murder trial the comment was made during garda conference but he did not recall who made it

Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes made a note of it in his notebook but does not remember who said it. Photograph: Collins Courts
Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes made a note of it in his notebook but does not remember who said it. Photograph: Collins Courts
Eoin Reynolds
Fri Apr 05 2019 - 16:21

A garda investigating the disappearance of Bobby Ryan made a note saying, "Mary Lowry had his head melted," but he couldn't remember who made the comment, the Central Criminal Court has heard.

Chief Superintendent Dominic Hayes told defence counsel Lorcan Staines SC that the comment emerged during a conference of gardaí involved in the investigation when Mr Ryan was a missing person, before his body was found. He made a note of it in his notebook but does not remember who said it.

Bobby Ryan (52), a part-time DJ going by the name Mr Moonlight, went missing on June 3, 2011 after leaving his girlfriend Mary Lowry's house at 6.30am. His body was found 22 months later in April 2013 in a run-off tank on the farm owned by Ms Lowry (52) and leased by the accused man Patrick Quirke (50) of Breanshamore, Tipperary. The prosecution claims that Mr Quirke murdered Mr Ryan so he could rekindle an affair with Ms Lowry. Mr Quirke has pleaded not guilty to Mr Ryan's murder.

Patrick Quirke (50), of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, who is charged with the murder of Bobby Ryan (52) at an unknown location on a date between June 3rd 2011 and April 13th 2013. He has pleaded not guilty. Photograph: Collins Courts
Patrick Quirke (50), of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, who is charged with the murder of Bobby Ryan (52) at an unknown location on a date between June 3rd 2011 and April 13th 2013. He has pleaded not guilty. Photograph: Collins Courts

On his second day of cross examination Chief Supt Hayes also said that Mr Ryan’s phone last pinged off a mast at 10.19am on the day he went missing. The mast is at Crogue Motors on the Cashel Road but he explained this does not mean the phone was immediately beside that location and agreed with Mr Staines that a phone at Fawnagowan could ping off that mast.

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Mary Lowry pictured outside court. Photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times
Mary Lowry pictured outside court. Photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times

Mr Staines also pointed the witness towards an entry in his notebook dated February 23, 2016 which read, “height-bumper”. Mr Staines asked him what that means. The witness said it could have related to vehicles in the yard at Fawnagowan, a tractor or a van. He added: “I can’t put it any further.” Mr Staines asked him what gardaí had been discussing and he said he does not recall.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon told the jury of six men and six women that the prosecution case will come to a close on Monday.