Ireland Case No. 5358Murder · Co. Mayo
James Kilroy found guilty of murder of wife Valerie French Kilroy in Westport, Co Mayo
A jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously found James Kilroy guilty of murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, in 2019, rejecting his insanity defence. He is due to be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court23 Jul
2 reports - Convicted26 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports53 statements extracted from the articles
- whatValerie French Kilroy was beaten, stabbed and strangled to death by her husband. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJames Kilroy was found guilty of murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA jury unanimously convicted James Kilroy of murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at the couple's home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing happened at the couple's rural Mayo home. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe couple's home is in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing happened at the couple's home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred between June 13th and June 14th, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing happened between June 13th and June 14th, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder happened between June 13 and June 14, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing took place between June 13 and June 14, 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeKilroy attacked his wife with a knife after she arrived home from a night out. (irishtimes.com)
- causeEvidence showed Kilroy was a regular cannabis user and had a previous drug-related psychotic episode in 2001. (irishtimes.com)
- causeKilroy beat, stabbed and strangled his wife to death. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponKilroy attacked his wife with a knife. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationBoth the blood and urine tests were negative for THC, the intoxicating component of cannabis. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationKilroy was found hours later wandering naked in a nearby field. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí found Kilroy a short time later, wandering naked in a field. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí found Valerie French Kilroy's beaten and bloodied body in a camper van at the home. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeJames Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeJames Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his wife. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury consists of eight women and four men. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury was to return on Thursday to hear closing speeches. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury has eight women and four men. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury has spent less than one hour considering its verdict and will return on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury unanimously convicted Kilroy of murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury rejected Kilroy's insanity defence after about two hours. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThis was Kilroy's third trial since 2021, and the two earlier trials collapsed. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe two previous trials collapsed due to unforeseen difficulties during the evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury rejected Kilroy's claim that he was insane when he killed his wife. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial was held at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury of eight women and four men took about two hours to reject the defence. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtTwo earlier trials collapsed due to unforeseen difficulties during the evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceKilroy is to be sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment the following Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherProf Harry Kennedy, called by the prosecution, said the accused was not suffering from a mental disorder under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. (irishtimes.com)
- otherProf Kennedy said cannabis-induced psychosis is not a mental disorder under the Act and cannot be used as part of an insanity defence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Ronan Mullaney, called by the defence, said drug-induced psychosis is a mental disorder distinct from intoxication. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Mullaney offered the opinion that Mr Kilroy was more likely than not suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis and meets the criteria for the special insanity verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Lisa Wootton, also called by the defence, preferred a diagnosis of acute and transient psychotic disorder but believed the accused meets the criteria for the special verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Grundlingh found that the symptoms described by Mr Kilroy, including hallucinations and delusions, were not consistent with cannabis intoxication or withdrawal. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Grundlingh said cannabis intoxication typically lasts a few hours and can last up to 24 hours. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge told the jury that intoxication cannot be used as a defence under the Act. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Ronan Mullaney, called by the defence, said Mr Kilroy was suffering from drug-induced psychosis. (irishtimes.com)
- otherProf Harry Kennedy, called by the prosecution, said Mr Kilroy was most likely suffering from cannabis intoxication or withdrawal at the time of the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Lisa Wootton, called by the defence, said Mr Kilroy was most likely suffering from an acute and transient psychotic disorder at the time of the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr Kilroy is described as a cannabis user. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe jury rejected his claim that he was insane when he killed her. (irishtimes.com)
- otherEvidence showed Kilroy used a ligature and the victim struggled during the unprovoked attack. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKilroy told gardaí and psychiatrists of delusional beliefs, including that his wife was working with Donald Trump's bodyguards to kill him. (irishtimes.com)
- otherPsychiatrists disagreed on whether cannabis-induced psychosis can be a defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe trial judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, said the verdict was the correct result on the evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim's family, who attended every day of the three trials, cried and thanked the jury. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 26 Jul2024James Kilroy found guilty of wife's murder as insanity defence rejected by jury
Reports the jury verdict after the third trial, the rejection of the insanity defence based on cannabis-induced psychosis, the trial judge's comments, and that sentencing is due the following Monday.
convicted, James Kilroy, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kilroyvictim, Valerie French Kilroy, female, irish (judged from name)Valerie French Kilroy - 26 Jul2024Valerie French Kilroy case: Man found guilty of wife’s murder
Conviction at Kilroy's third trial. The jury rejected the insanity defence based on cannabis-induced psychosis, and the judge said self-induced scenarios are not defences.
convicted, James Kilroy, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kilroyvictim, Valerie French Kilroy, female, irish (judged from name)Valerie French Kilroy - 25 Jul2024Jury to consider whether cannabis-induced psychosis can be defence to murder
Trial report on the judge's charge to the jury; psychiatric evidence differs on whether cannabis-induced psychosis falls under the Act; the jury has spent under an hour deliberating and will resume on Friday.
victim, Valerie French Kilroy, irish (judged from name)Valerie French Kilroyaccused, James Kilroy, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kilroy - 23 Jul2024‘Highly unlikely’ man accused of killing Valerie French Kilroy was intoxicated from cannabis, court told
Expert toxicology and psychiatric evidence presented at the Central Criminal Court trial; toxicologists say cannabis intoxication highly unlikely based on negative THC tests; psychiatrists give conflicting views on whether the accused meets the criteria for the special insanity verdict.
victim, Valerie French Kilroy, female, irish (judged from name)Valerie French Kilroyaccused, James Kilroy, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kilroy