Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4857Murder · Co. Mayo

James Kilroy granted legal aid to appeal murder conviction

James Kilroy, who was jailed for life for murdering his wife Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Westport, Co Mayo, in 2019, has been granted legal aid to appeal his conviction. The Court of Appeal granted two counsel for the conviction appeal.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced25 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJames Kilroy has been granted legal aid to appeal his conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe killing happened at the couple's home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder took place between June 13th and June 14th, 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeKilroy beat, stabbed and strangled his wife to death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThere was evidence that Kilroy used a ligature and that his wife struggled. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponKilroy attacked his wife with a knife when she came home. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationKilroy was found hours later wandering naked in a nearby field. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtKilroy was unanimously convicted of murdering Valerie French Kilroy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe conviction followed three trials at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe two earlier trials collapsed due to unforeseen difficulties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury took about two hours to reject Kilroy's insanity defence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceKilroy was jailed for life after a jury rejected his insanity claim. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBefore she was killed, Valerie French Kilroy had been on a night out with friends. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPsychiatrists disagreed on whether cannabis-induced psychosis can be a defence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKilroy told gardaí and psychiatrists that his wife was working with Donald Trump's bodyguards. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThere was evidence that Kilroy was a regular cannabis user and had a previous drug-related psychotic episode. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge granted legal aid for two counsel in Kilroy's conviction appeal. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Oct2024
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Wife killer James Kilroy granted legal aid to appeal murder conviction

    Reports that Kilroy was granted legal aid for two counsel to appeal his murder conviction. The article gives the killing as between June 13th and June 14th, 2019, so no single incident date is recorded. It also describes the jury rejecting his insanity defence.

    victim, Valerie French Kilroy, female, irish (judged from name)Valerie French Kilroyconvicted, James Kilroy, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kilroy