November date set for retrial in Leap woman’s murder case

BY ALISON O’RIORDAN

JAMES  Kilroy, who is accused of the murder of his wife Valerie at their rural Co Mayo home, will go on trial for a second time at the Central Criminal Court later this year. 

Park ranger Mr Kilroy (49), with an address at Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo is charged with murdering mother-of-three Valerie French Kilroy (41), originally from Leap, at their home between June 13th and June 14th, 2019, both dates inclusive.

At a trial earlier this month, Mr Kilroy had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. However, the trial collapsed at the Central Criminal Court after an ‘unexpected, complex matter’ arose in the case. 

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring told the 10 men and two women of the jury on March 20th that she had been left in the ‘unfortunate position’ of having to discharge them and put the matter back to allow the issue to be resolved. 

Patrick Gageby SC, defending Mr Kilroy, told Ms Justice Ring earlier this week that he understood two dates were available but having regard to ‘the difficulties with doctors’ he asked for the November date. Ms Justice Ring set November 6th, 2023 as the date for Mr Kilroy’s retrial before a jury at the Central Criminal Court. 

Ms Anne Marie Lawlor SC, prosecuting, said she understood that the defence intends to correspond with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Therefore she thought it was appropriate to fix a case management date. 

A date of June 30th this year was set for management of the case. 

The judge granted a request by Mr Gageby for the transcripts from the earlier trial.

The defence had made a number of formal admissions to the court on behalf of their client during the first trial, including that Mr Kilroy killed his wife Valerie.