Mary Lowry remanded on bail after admitting careless driving causing man’s death

Ms Lowry became well-known when her evidence at the 'Mr Moonlight' murder trial of killer Patrick Quirke was key to the prosecution case against him

Ms Lowry did not speak in court when her case was called, and she declined to speak to reporters afterwards outside the court. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

A woman who was at the centre of a deadly love triangle between her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s killer, in what became known as the infamous “Mr Moonlight Murder”, was remanded on Tuesday on continuing bail after she pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing the death of a man.

Mary Lowry, late 50s, of Green Road, Dundrum, Co Tipperary, appeared before Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court today for sentencing, which was adjourned to March 21. The mother of three has pleaded guilty to one count of careless driving causing the death of Patrick Connolly, 51, of Skehennarinky, south west Tipperary, on December 28, 2021.

Mr Connolly was participating in a charity motorbike outing at the time of the fatal collision.

At a previous court hearing, Ms Lowry admitted that “on the 28th of December 2021 at the N24, Spring House, Bansha, Co Tipperary” she drove a vehicle “without due care and attention, thereby causing the death of Patrick Connolly”. The offence is contrary to “section 52(1) & 52(2)(a) of the Road Traffic Act, 1961” which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison, and/or a fine not exceeding €10,000.

The case was initially brought before Thurles District Court on November 16, 2022. Mr Connolly, who had been riding a motorbike with his son as a pillion passenger when the crash happened, died from injuries in hospital a number of days after the collision.

On Tuesday, Judge Catherine Staines granted an application by barrister, Pádraig de Búrca BL, acting for Ms Lowry, who sat quietly in the public gallery, to adjourn sentencing to March 21, which was consented to by State prosecution counsel, David Humphries BL.

Ms Lowry did not speak in court when her case was called, and she declined to speak to reporters afterwards outside the court.

Ms Lowry became well-known when her evidence at the murder trial of killer Patrick Quirke was key to the prosecution case against him.

Ms Lowry’s boyfriend Bobby Ryan, a popular DJ known as “Mr Moonlight”, went missing on June 3, 2011, after leaving Ms Lowry’s home in Fawnagown, Tipperary at 6.30am. His body was found, on April 30, 2013, in an underground septic tank on Ms Lowry’s farm which was being leased by Quirke.

The prosecution claimed Mr Quirke murdered Mr Ryan so he could rekindle an affair with Ms Lowry. He is serving a mandatory life sentence in prison having lost an appeal against the verdict.