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. 5481Murder · Co. Mayo · 13 Jun 2019

Park ranger James Kilroy's murder trial: psychiatrist says no mental disorder

James Kilroy (51) is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy (41), who died at their home at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, between June 13 and June 14, 2019. After the killing he was found walking naked in a field near the home and was assessed under the Mental Health Act on June 14, 2019. The trial opened on July 10, 2024, with the DPP saying he is guilty of murder and the defence psychiatrist saying he had cannabis-induced psychosis. On July 12, 2024, psychiatrist Dr Camilla Curtis told the court that Kilroy had no mental disorder, and the trial continues.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Jul
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • James Kilroy is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy.
  • After the killing, Kilroy was found walking naked in a field near his home.
Where
The killing took place at their home at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo.
When
The killing took place between June 13 and June 14, 2019.
Cause
Valerie French Kilroy died from ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head and a stab wound to the neck, and blood loss from wounds to her hands contributed to her death.
Weapon
Kilroy said he stabbed his wife in the throat with a kitchen knife.
Other details
  • Kilroy said he smoked cannabis about 10 days before the assessment and spoke of being watched by body guards and believing the year was 2024.
  • The judge was told that intoxication is not a defence to murder or insanity under the law.
Investigation
  • Dr Camilla Curtis assessed Kilroy on June 14, 2019 and found no mental disorder, while the defence psychiatrist says he had cannabis-induced psychosis at the time of the killing.
  • State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan noted ligature marks to the neck, a stab wound to the throat, and multiple injuries to the face and head in keeping with repeated blunt force trauma.
Charges
Kilroy pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his wife, while the DPP's position is that he is guilty of murder.
In court
Anne-Marie Lawlor SC prosecutes for the Director of Public Prosecutions before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of eight women and four men, and the defence accepts that Kilroy killed his wife.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJames Kilroy is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for murdering his wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAfter the killing he was found walking naked in a field near his home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKilroy spoke of being watched by body guards and believed the year was 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKilroy said he smoked cannabis about 10 days before the assessment. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKilroy used to grow his own cannabis in a polytunnel beside his home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing took place at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder took place at their home at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing took place between June 13 and June 14, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe victim had a violent death from blunt force trauma, strangulation and a stab wound. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeValerie French Kilroy died from ligature strangulation combined with blunt force trauma to the head and a stab wound to the neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeBlood loss from wounds to her hands contributed to her death. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponKilroy said he stabbed his wife with a kitchen knife to the throat. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationPsychiatrists disagree on whether Mr Kilroy meets the criteria for an insanity verdict. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationState Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan noted ligature marks to the neck, a stab wound to the throat, and multiple injuries to the face and head in keeping with repeated blunt force trauma. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMr Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering his wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe DPP's position is that Mr Kilroy is guilty of murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKilroy pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder charge. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAnne-Marie Lawlor SC prosecutes for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury has eight women and four men. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and the jury. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of eight women and four men at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution said psychiatric testimony will be in conflict over whether the defendant was insane at the time of the killing. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence accepts that the accused killed his wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence psychiatrist says Mr Kilroy had a mental disorder, cannabis-induced psychosis, at the time of the killing. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge was told intoxication is not a defence to murder or insanity under the law. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Jul2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Court hears park ranger on ‘mission from God to kill wife’ did not have a mental disorder

    Reports psychiatric testimony from Dr Camilla Curtis (no mental disorder found) and postmortem findings from State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan at the ongoing murder trial.

    victim, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, female, irish (judged from name)Valerie French Kilroyaccused, James Kilroy, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Kilroy
  2. 10 Jul2024
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Psychiatrists disagree on whether insanity verdict open to husband accused of murdering wife

    Trial opened and continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The defence psychiatrist says Mr Kilroy meets the criteria for a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict, while the prosecution psychiatrist disagrees. The DPP says he is guilty of murder.

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