The Supreme Court is to give a ruling on Friday concerning the effect on Patrick Quirke’s murder conviction of its previous decision that a computer seized from his home was unlawfully searched. The court has considered submissions from lawyers on behalf of Patrick Quirke and the Director of Public Prosecutions concerning how the matter should proceed. The court could order a retrial or give a ruling as to the impact the computer evidence had on the original verdict.
Mr Quirke is appealing his 2019 conviction for the 2011 murder of Mr Bobby Ryan. At present Mr Quirke is in prison serving a life sentence imposed following the 2019 conviction after a 15-week trial. Mr Quirke, aged 53, from Breanshamore near Tipperary town was arrested after Mr Ryan’s remains were found in a disused underground tank on a farm at Fawnagowan, Tipperary, on April 30th, 2013, almost two years after he went missing.
