Ireland Crime

Retrospective feature article published in 2026 looking back at the 2019 trial and conviction of Patrick Quirke for the 2011 murder of Bobby Ryan, including details of the circumstantial evidence and inadmissible recordings.

Reports the Supreme Court's unanimous judgment dismissing Quirke's appeal, which sets out the JC test for unconstitutionally obtained evidence and the categories of ruling that can be corrected on appeal without a retrial.

Supreme Court judgment on the appeal against the murder conviction. It records that the search warrant was lawful but seizure of computer devices was unlawful, and that the resulting breach was due to honest inadvertence, so the conviction is affirmed.

Adds that the Supreme Court dismissed Quirke's retrial application on 28 July 2023, after its 20 March 2023 ruling that the seizure of a computer was unlawful. Quirke is described as 51, which differs from the 53 in the existing record. The article states that Ryan went missing on 3 June 2011.

Reports the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to dismiss Quirke's appeal against his murder conviction, and the court's reasoning on the computer evidence. No existing case in the list matches.

Article body is missing (only headline and template code). Headline reports that Patrick Quirke lost an appeal for a retrial, which matches existing case 340 (his murder conviction).

Reports the Supreme Court's judgment dismissing Quirke's further appeal. The court found a warrant application mistake was inadvertent, and the computer evidence was admitted. Earlier in March the court had ruled the computer was unlawfully searched.

The Supreme Court dismissed Quirke's appeal on 28 July 2023, affirmed his conviction and rejected the request for a retrial over the admissibility of evidence from his home computer.

Previews the Supreme Court's follow-on judgment after its March ruling that a computer search was unlawful. Adds the retrial question, the seven-judge hearing last May and background on the 2013 discovery of Bobby Ryan's remains.

Appeal stage in the Quirke case: the Supreme Court is asked to order a retrial. The article body is empty apart from the headline.

Reports a Supreme Court hearing, after its March ruling that the search of Quirke's computer was unlawful, on whether to direct a retrial or allow the computer evidence. Judgment was reserved.

Reports the Supreme Court hearing on the defence application for a retrial after the March ruling that a computer search was unlawful; the court has reserved its decision on next steps.

Previews the Supreme Court hearing on the Quirke conviction, following the court's earlier ruling that the search of the computer contents was unlawful. Adds that the court may order a retrial or rule on the computer evidence, and that Quirke was convicted by a 10/2 majority jury verdict.

Reports the Supreme Court date of 23 May 2023 for oral submissions on the consequences of its March ruling that the computer search was unlawful, including whether it can order a retrial.

Supreme Court ruled the computer seizure was unlawful but scheduled a follow-up hearing for 23 May 2023 to determine whether to order a retrial or rule on the evidence. Quirke and the DPP were given five weeks to exchange submissions.

Reports the Supreme Court's scheduling of a follow-up hearing for 23 May 2023 to consider the consequences of the unlawful computer seizure ruling, including whether the court can order a retrial or rule on the evidence, and that Quirke and the DPP were given five weeks to exchange submissions.

Supreme Court ruled the computer seizure was unlawful and set 23 May 2023 for a full day of further submissions on consequences, including whether to order a retrial or rule on the evidence. The issues were narrowed to those between the DPP and Quirke, with IHREC and Attorney General lawyers potentially no longer needed.

Supreme Court judgment on Quirke's appeal finding the search of his home computer unlawful because the warrant covered only physical objects; sets a baseline for digital privacy in search warrant applications under section 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

Supreme Court ruling (19 March 2023) that the digital search of Quirke's computer was unlawful, allowing his appeal on that ground while rejecting the second ground; case remitted for further case management.

Supreme Court (seven-judge panel, unanimous) allowed Quirke's appeal on the ground that the search warrant under section 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 did not authorise a digital search of computers, as the sworn information only referenced personal items of the deceased and 'any other relevant evidence'. The second ground (DPP's failure to call one of four pathology experts) was dismissed. Submissions on consequences to be heard on a later date.

Reports the second and final day of the Supreme Court hearing in Quirke's appeal, covering arguments on the search warrant's validity and the DPP's choice of pathologist witnesses, with the court reserving judgment.

Reports the first day of Quirke's Supreme Court appeal, which argues the search warrant was invalid. The article says the Court of Appeal had dismissed all 52 grounds of challenge, and it adds the defence and DPP arguments and the seven-judge panel.