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. 5337Murder · Co. Mayo

James Kilroy jailed for life over murder of wife Valerie French Kilroy, Mayo

James Kilroy (51) was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for the murder of his wife, occupational therapist Valerie French Kilroy (41), whose body was found at their home in Co Mayo in 2019. Her family called for a review of the law so that people who kill their partners lose parental rights.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatValerie French Kilroy, 41, an occupational therapist, was murdered by her husband. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHer body was found at her home in Kilbree Lower, near Islandeady, Co Mayo. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHer body was found on June 14th, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe cause of death was ligature strangulation, combined with blunt force trauma to the head and a stab wound to the neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí in Westport and Castlebar carried out the investigation, which the family described as a text book investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA jury found James Kilroy guilty of murder after rejecting his insanity defence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJames Kilroy was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherValerie's three boys were under five when she died. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe family called for a review of the law to stop people who kill their partners from having parental rights to their children. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Jul2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    ‘She died in terror for her own life and the lives of her children’: Valerie French Kilroy’s husband jailed

    First report of the sentencing. Adds the jury verdict, the sentence, the cause of death and the family's reaction and call for a change in the law.

    victim, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Valerie French Kilroyconvicted, James Kilroy, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kilroy