Former soldier accused of killing Irish girlfriend on holiday claims he would 'never hurt a woman'
A former soldier accused of strangling his Irish mum-of-one girlfriend to death at their holiday hotel has insisted he would never hurt a woman and claimed she had taken her own life.
Keith Byrne acted out the dramatic moment he claimed he found Kirsty Ward dead with their hair straightener power cord tied around her neck and attached to the inside of their room door knob on the penultimate day of his murder trial.
Advertisement
The 34-year-old urged the nine-strong jury to use 'logic and common sense' in an unconventional address to the trial court in the Spanish city of Tarragona on the east coast.
Public prosecutors are seeking a 21-year prison sentence for Dubliner Byrne for killing Kirsty at the four-star Magnolia Hotel in the popular Costa Daurada resort of Salou.
A private prosecutor acting for Kirsty's family wants him jailed for 30 years if convicted of the 36-year-old's murder on July 2nd, 2023.
Kirsty's mum, Jackie Ward, described Byrne as someone she 'didn't like' and 'didn't trust' on day one of the trial last Wednesday and said she had found out after her daughter's death that she had planned to leave him during their 'make or break' holiday.
Advertisement
Prosecutors are claiming the Irish man, who had been living in Duleek, Co Meath, deliberately killed his alleged victim because he couldn't accept the end of their eight-month relationship.
Byrne, identified around the time of his arrest as a fugitive from the Royal Military Police in England for going AWOL in 2017, delivered an extraordinary character assassination of his late partner in court yesterday before insisting: 'It wasn't a murder, it was suicide.'
He spoke in heavily-accented Spanish, which he is believed to have learnt during his nearly two years on remand in jail, despite sitting beside a translator he used to help him re-enact his discovery of Kirsty on the floor of their hotel room after her alleged 'suicide".
Byrne described himself as a 'respectful and intelligent' father of three who would never commit an act of domestic violence and had never been accused of hurting a woman in Ireland.
Advertisement
He initially described Kirsty as 'affectionate, friendly, funny and amusing' when they started their relationship.
But he went on to paint her as an unstable woman who could be 'four people in one day', especially after binging on alcohol and banned substance drugs, which he claimed made her psychotic and turned their romance 'toxic.'
Describing their trip to Salou as a rollercoaster of emotions, which he claimed began with an argument sparked by her insistence on smuggling cocaine onto their flight to Spain from Dublin, he said in an impassioned plea to the jury: 'Please use logic and common sense.
'For the last two years, people have called me a killer, and I've been locked up in a sh***y prison for a crime I didn't commit.
Advertisement
'I'm here today as a witness and also a victim. This wasn't a murder. It was suicide.
'My last words to Kirsty before I was taken away by police after giving her a kiss were: 'I'll love you forever, with all my heart and soul. None of this is your fault. Go in peace'.'
He recounted to the court in detail their last day together when he says he left her alone to binge on margarita cocktails in a bar called Bikini after a 'last straw' argument sparked by her threat to leave him in Spain and return to Ireland early.
He also alleged she badgered him into taking her to a swinger's club earlier in the holiday and called him a 'son of a b***h' for failing to bring back a man or woman to their hotel, she could have fun with after a drink and drug binge.
Advertisement
Recalling the moment he claims he found Kirsty dead, and using his translator to represent her in a gruesome role play, he said: 'I began CPR and started shouting 'Baby, please come back' and called out for help after loosening the pressure of the cord and dragging her out of the room towards the hotel corridor.
'It felt like hours before any help arrived.
'My world fell apart that day, my partner was dead. No one has ever understood that.'
Kirsty's mum, Jackie, sat feet away from Byrne. She broke down in tears and was comforted by loved ones as police photos of her body were shown to the jurors on large TV monitors in the courtroom.
Public prosecutors are accusing Byrne of aggravated murder and not simple homicide under Spanish law because of his alleged execution of the crime in a way or with means that left the victim defenceless.
They are demanding he pay Kirsty's teenage child, Evan, who was 14 at the time she died, €150,000 in compensation and to pay her mum €100,000.
Tests have shown Kirsty had consumed alcohol, cocaine, Benzoylecgonine and Lidocaine before her death. Prosecutors said in a pre-trial indictment that these substances prevented her from defending herself in 'equal conditions' when Byrne 'strangled" her by 'taking advantage of the privacy of their hotel room and his superior physical strength.'
Kirsty's mum was asked on day one of the trial whether she thought her daughter could have committed suicide, but replied angrily: 'She did everything for her son. She would never ever leave him. She would never do that to him.'
The trial is due to finish later on Wednesday, following lawyers' final speeches.
Jurors will start deliberating their verdict at the start of next week after the May Bank Holiday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Every day has tears': Belfast mum of Nóra Quoirin describes her heartbreak almost six years after daughter's death
Nóra Quoirin, who would have turned 21 last week, vanished from her room at the Dusun rainforest resort in 2019. Her body was found nine days after she went missing. An inquest initially recorded her death was by misadventure, but her mother Meabh has always believed her child was abducted. A second inquest returned an open verdict, with the judge agreeing with the family that Nóra could not have made her way through the jungle on her own. In a new interview with The Irish Times, Meabh said she does not believe anyone will ever be brought to justice for Nóra's death. 'The judge did say it was highly probable Nóra had been abducted and led there by someone else, but of course we just don't have proof of that, and I don't think we'll ever have answers,' she said. She added: 'I have zero faith in Malaysia ever paying attention to Nóra's case again. 'In the end, I try not to carry any anger. I don't think I do carry any anger.' Nora lived in London and was the daughter of French-Irish parents Sebastien and Meabh, who is from Belfast. The 15-year-old was born with holoprosencephaly, which affects brain development, and was described by her family as 'vulnerable'. When she disappeared from her hotel room her parents raised fears she had been taken. However, police in Malaysia said they found no evidence of abduction or kidnapping. A post-mortem examination revealed Nóra died from internal bleeding probably caused by hunger and stress. Her funeral took place in Belfast, and she is buried in Milltown Cemetery. Meabh told The Irish Times she still has photographs of her daughter on her walls. 'I can't bring myself to take any of them off the wall,' she added. 'So I just go around the house looking at them and talking to her and laughing about the stupid stuff she would laugh at and crying. Every day has tears.' Meabh marked what would have been Nora's 21st birthday with a trip to Hillsborough Forest Park. 'We went to Hillsborough for a picnic, with her [favourite] chocolate cake, and there were purple rhododendrons and purple flowers absolutely everywhere, and it was almost like this display had been put on for her birthday,' she added. 'She might not be standing physically beside me, but my universe is still filled with Nóra, constantly.'
Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Murdered sheep farmer remembered as loving relative and proud Kerry man
The town of Kenmare was rocked last month when following the disappearance of Michael Gaine, human remains found on his land were confirmed to be his. Mourners packed Holy Cross Church in the town on Saturday morning to pay their final respects to the 56-year-old and support his family. His remains were brought into the church in a wood box topped with sheep's wool. Speaking on behalf of the family ahead of the funeral service, Mr Gaine's cousin Eoghan Clarke remembered him as a 'proud Kerry man and an even prouder Kenmare man'. He said he will be missed terribly to applause from those gathered. In his homily, parish priest George Hayes described Kenmare as a place of enchanting beauty, but said into their 'peaceful, idyllic, sylvan existence' recently came something terrible. 'Over these weeks, since Michael went missing, we've asked so many questions – and, in life, sometimes, there are no answers,' he told mourners. 'But in the best tradition of Irish funerals, today is a day for recovering the dignity of Michael Gaine. 'Today we recover Michael's dignity because, today, we speak Michael's name with love … we gather to acknowledge Michael as someone who loved much and was much loved.' He urged: 'Let's not give in to hatred and bitterness … let's strive for justice and fairness. 'Winter will pass. Spring will come again. There will be better days, we will continue to honour Mike and speak Mike's name with love, and may Mike now rest in God's eternal care and God's eternal peace.' Earlier, Mr Clarke said his cousin was known for his incredible work ethic, personality and humour, and was a loving son, sibling and uncle. He recalled his passion for rallying, farming, current affairs, holidays and music. 'As we all know, Michael was generous. Incredibly generous. He had time for everyone and would chip in to help any time and any place,' he said. 'Michael seemed to always find the time to do the work of three men on his own farm, help out friends, family and neighbours, keep up to speed on current affairs and enjoy himself. 'He loved life, he always made the most of it and he truly lived every single moment. Whether you met him during lambing or while on a trip away to a car show or rally event, he always had the iconic twinkle in his eye – the 'I'm delighted to see you', 'I'm in great form', 'let's go and enjoy ourselves' glint in his eye.' He also said that Mr Gaine's wife Janice and sisters knew his soft caring side. 'Caring and affectionate. Kind and considerate. He was not afraid to show his emotions. He was also brave, fearless and strong,' he said. 'We will all miss Michael terribly. I know I'll miss our phone calls the most, as well as that happy feeling that Michael gave you when you were with him. 'He was always the glue that held the Rally of the Lakes weekend together and I will always look back very fondly on our adventures to the best spectating spots in Kerry.' Mr Gaine was initially reported missing having been last seen in Kenmare on March 20. Extensive searches were carried out with assistance at one stage from the Irish Defence Forces. On April 29, gardai announced the missing person probe had been upgraded to a homicide investigation. Partial human remains were found on Mr Gaine's land on May 17 which were identified as belonging to the missing farmer. A man aged in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder on May 19. He was held for questioning for one day before being released without charge from Killarney garda station.
North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Murdered sheep farmer remembered as loving relative and proud Kerry man
The town of Kenmare was rocked last month when following the disappearance of Michael Gaine, human remains found on his land were confirmed to be his. Mourners packed Holy Cross Church in the town on Saturday morning to pay their final respects to the 56-year-old and support his family. His remains were brought into the church in a wood box topped with sheep's wool. Speaking on behalf of the family ahead of the funeral service, Mr Gaine's cousin Eoghan Clarke remembered him as a 'proud Kerry man and an even prouder Kenmare man'. He said he will be missed terribly to applause from those gathered. In his homily, parish priest George Hayes described Kenmare as a place of enchanting beauty, but said into their 'peaceful, idyllic, sylvan existence' recently came something terrible. 'Over these weeks, since Michael went missing, we've asked so many questions – and, in life, sometimes, there are no answers,' he told mourners. 'But in the best tradition of Irish funerals, today is a day for recovering the dignity of Michael Gaine. 'Today we recover Michael's dignity because, today, we speak Michael's name with love … we gather to acknowledge Michael as someone who loved much and was much loved.' He urged: 'Let's not give in to hatred and bitterness … let's strive for justice and fairness. 'Winter will pass. Spring will come again. There will be better days, we will continue to honour Mike and speak Mike's name with love, and may Mike now rest in God's eternal care and God's eternal peace.' Earlier, Mr Clarke said his cousin was known for his incredible work ethic, personality and humour, and was a loving son, sibling and uncle. He recalled his passion for rallying, farming, current affairs, holidays and music. 'As we all know, Michael was generous. Incredibly generous. He had time for everyone and would chip in to help any time and any place,' he said. 'Michael seemed to always find the time to do the work of three men on his own farm, help out friends, family and neighbours, keep up to speed on current affairs and enjoy himself. 'He loved life, he always made the most of it and he truly lived every single moment. Whether you met him during lambing or while on a trip away to a car show or rally event, he always had the iconic twinkle in his eye – the 'I'm delighted to see you', 'I'm in great form', 'let's go and enjoy ourselves' glint in his eye.' He also said that Mr Gaine's wife Janice and sisters knew his soft caring side. 'Caring and affectionate. Kind and considerate. He was not afraid to show his emotions. He was also brave, fearless and strong,' he said. 'We will all miss Michael terribly. I know I'll miss our phone calls the most, as well as that happy feeling that Michael gave you when you were with him. 'He was always the glue that held the Rally of the Lakes weekend together and I will always look back very fondly on our adventures to the best spectating spots in Kerry.' Mr Gaine was initially reported missing having been last seen in Kenmare on March 20. Extensive searches were carried out with assistance at one stage from the Irish Defence Forces. On April 29, gardai announced the missing person probe had been upgraded to a homicide investigation. Partial human remains were found on Mr Gaine's land on May 17 which were identified as belonging to the missing farmer. A man aged in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder on May 19. He was held for questioning for one day before being released without charge from Killarney garda station.
