Jury views bent and bloodied knife in trial of husband accused of murdering wife

Central Criminal Court heard that the accused showed gardaí in interview how he killed his wife, and drew a sketch of the knife

James Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murdering his Cork-born wife, Valerie French Kilroy, at their home at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Mayo, between June 13 and 14, 2019.

A murder trial jury has been shown the bloodied, bent knife that a man allegedly used in killing his wife at their rural Mayo home.

The Central Criminal Court also heard on Thursday that the accused, James Kilroy, demonstrated to gardaí in interview how he killed his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, and drew a sketch of the knife.

Mr Kilroy, aged 51, a park ranger, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murdering Ms French Kilroy, aged 41, who is originally from West Cork, at their home at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Mayo, between June 13 and 14, 2019.

The prosecution has told the jury that psychiatric testimony will be in conflict over whether or not the defendant was insane at the time of the killing.

Patrick Gageby, defending, told the jury on Thursday that the defence accepts that the accused killed his wife.

Detective Garda Sergeant Michael Doherty, of Castlebar Garda Station, showed the jury a 20cm knife bent to almost a 90-degree angle.

The knife was found at the scene and next to the camper van in which the victim was discovered. Forensic analysis revealed that it had Ms French Kilroy’s blood on it.

A hatchet found next to Ms French Kilroy’s body was also shown to the jury.

In outlining the case to the jury, the detective said that when gardaí searched the house, they found blood in the camper van, in the bathroom of the house, and on the ground at the shed, and that “it was clear [Ms French Kilroy] met a violent death”.

Det Garda Doherty agreed with Anne-Marie Lawlor, prosecuting, that a pathology report found that Ms French Kilroy’s death was caused by ligature strangulation, blunt force trauma to the head, and a stab wound to the neck.

Det Sgt Doherty said Fiona Needham, who lives in nearby Doon, Mayo, called gardaí at 2.45am on June 14, reporting a man banging on her door. The detective said Ms Needham said she heard the man say he had travelled the world “a few times over”, and that her house was the first he had seen with a light.

The late Valerie French Kilroy. 

Niall Corrigan, a resident of nearby Derrygorman, saw a man walking naked in his field the next morning — June 14, 2019 — and called gardaí.

Gardaí Leanne Nallen, Aisling Barrett, and Colm Boyle answered Mr Corrigan’s call, and Garda Nallen detained Mr Kilroy under the Mental Health Act.

While naked in the field, Mr Kilroy told gardaí he was on a “pilgrimage of penance” to Croagh Patrick for what he had done, and that “God had shown him the path”. He told gardaí he did not have a family and that he was divorced.

Gardaí brought the accused to Westport Garda Station, but there was no doctor available to assess Mr Kilroy.

There was “no option” but to transfer Mr Kilroy to the emergency department of Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar, said Det Garda Doherty.

Ann Shortt told Michael Hourigan, prosecuting, that she was an emergency consultant at Mayo General Hospital, and was told Mr Kilroy was behaving “erratically” since his arrival.

She attended to him to assess if his admission to the mental health ward was warranted. Dr Shortt said Mr Kilroy had abrasions all over his body, was stable, but was agitated.

“The conversation was a little bizarre, but he would answer questions of a physical nature,” said Dr Shortt.

“He had no pain and was walking normally, despite extensive abrasions.”

Dr Shortt recommended Mr Kilroy be taken to the mental health unit.

Mr Kilroy then told Dr Shortt he had a “confession” to make, but that it would be better for her not to hear it and he instead spoke to gardaí.

Garda Nallen told the trial that Mr Kilroy told her that he had “killed his wife” before he gave gardaí directions to the house.

Garda Barrett said she and Garda Boyle observed blood on the bathroom wall of the Kilroy home, adding that a section of an electrical extension lead had been placed in the bath.

Garda Barrett said she and Garda Boyle went to a shed and found a large amount of pooled blood inside a green Ford camper van. She saw a hand and noted that a seat had been placed over a body.

Mr Kilroy was interviewed on four occasions, during which he demonstrated to gardaí how he killed Ms French Kilroy and drew a sketch of the knife.

CCTV of Mr Kilroy's movements on the day of June 13 has been played to the jury.  

The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.