Latest news with #KirstyWard
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Ex-soldier strangled girlfriend to death with hair straightener power cord on 'make or break Spanish holiday' and now faces thirty years in jail
A former soldier has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend while on holiday in Spain, where he now faces up to three decades behind bars. Keith Byrne, 34, killed mother-of-one Kirsty Ward by strangling her with a hair straightener power cord after she told him she was leaving him, the court heard. He had claimed during his trial in the Spanish city of Tarragona that Ms Byrne had died by suicide at their four-star Magnolia Hotel in the popular Costa Daurada resort of Salou. The former Irish Guards and Parachute Regiment soldier said he would never commit domestic violence and insisted he was a 'respectful and intelligent' father-of-three. Meanwhile he demonised Ms Ward as someone who could be 'four people in one day', claiming she binged on alcohol and cocaine which he said made their romance 'toxic'. Ms Ward's mother Jackie Ward told the court on day one of the trial that Byrne was someone she 'didn't like' and 'didn't trust'. She said she had found out after her daughter's death that she had planned to leave Byrne during their 'make or break' holiday and had a ticket booked to return home to Dublin on July 4 2023. She was asked as she gave evidence whether she thought her daughter, whose son Evan was 14 when she died in 2023, could have died by suicide but replied: 'She did everything for her son. She would never ever leave him. She would never do that to him.' In a statement, the family of Ms Ward thanked the jury for 'seeing and believing in what was the truth about our beautiful Kirsty'. 'Our family now request our privacy to be respected, while we grieve and come to terms with all that has happened during the past two years.' Byrne is now awaiting sentencing and is expected to find out his fate in around a month's time. A private prosecutor for Ms Ward's family said they were seeking the 30-year sentence they argued for before and during the trial. Public prosecutor Javier Goimil urged the judge to jail Byrne for 20 years, lowering his initial pre-trial demand by a year as he accepted his prior use of drink and drugs as a mitigating circumstance. Jurors found that Byrne had 'diminished cognitive and volitional faculties' due to this when he killed Ms Ward. Mr Goimil, a domestic violence specialist, dismissed Byrne's court claim that Ms Ward took her own life during his closing speech to the jury last Wednesday on the final day of the murder trial. He claimed the former soldier, who had been living in Duleek, Co Meath, decided, 'you're mine or you're nobody's' and strangled his girlfriend to death because she wanted out of their relationship. He said the forensic evidence pointed to Ms Ward having been strangled from behind between 8pm and 10pm on 2 July 2023 after 'incapacitating herself' with alcohol and cocaine. He told the court: 'Byrne has adapted his version of events of what happened in that timeframe nearly two years on in accordance with the evidence he's learnt there is against him. 'He's saying Kirsty tied a cable round her neck and attached it to the door knob but in the state she was in it would have been impossible for her to do that and there's nothing showing there was a knot in the cable. 'What's occurred here is a violent and painful death, a strangulation from behind where someone is pulling from the front to the back. This was not a suicide.' He added: 'She didn't leave a note for her son or her siblings or her mum and what's more she had bought a plane ticket back to Dublin for July 4. 'Kirsty's relationship with Byrne was very toxic, very intense and very emotional. 'She decided to end it during the week they stayed at the hotel in Salou and her partner couldn't accept that decision. 'His mindset at that moment was: 'You're mine or you're nobody's. You, woman, are no-one to say you're going to detach yourself from me, the man, and have your own independent life'. 'That was why he killed her the way he did.' He also said the amount of alcohol Ms Ward had drunk before being killed would have impacted significantly on her ability to defend herself. Byrne's defence lawyer Jordi Cabre had been seeking his client's acquittal before the jury verdict and afterwards asked the judge to hand down the 'minimum sentence'. It emerged following Byrne's arrest in Spain that the former soldier was wanted in the UK by Royal Military Police for going AWOL after he left for Ireland in 2017. In a statement yesterday Ms Ward's family thanked the jury 'for seeing and believing in what was the truth about our beautiful Kirsty, that her life was taken from her, and that we were robbed of her and the beautiful life she could have had'. They thanked the police, the public and the private prosecutors for their support, guidance and commitment and asked that their privacy to be respected, 'while we grieve and come to terms with all that has happened during the past two years'. Following Ms Ward's death in 2023, her mother paid tribute to her as 'a fantastic friend' and 'an absolutely adored daughter'. Speaking at the Church of John the Evangelist in Ballinteer, Dublin in July 2023, Jackie Ward said her daughter had been an amazing mother to her son. 'The two of them were an amazingly strong and tight team and I hope to continue the great work she has done. 'To me she was a fantastic friend and an absolutely adored daughter to myself and John. 'She was a caring sister, a cherished granddaughter and much loved niece and cousin. A loyal and true friend.'
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Boyfriend of Kirsty Ward faces up to three decades in jail after being found guilty of her murder in Spain
Keith Byrne had claimed during his trial in the eastern Spanish city of Tarragona that the 36-year-old mum-of-one took her own life A former soldier is facing up to three decades behind bars after being convicted of murdering his south Dublin girlfriend at their Spanish holiday hotel. Jurors found Keith Byrne guilty after three days of deliberations of strangling Kirsty Ward to death with a hair straightener power cord when she told him she was leaving him.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- The Sun
Twisted ex-soldier, 34, strangled girlfriend to death in Spanish hotel on what family said was ‘make or break' hols
AN EX-SOLDIER faces up to three decades behind bars after being convicted of murdering his Irish girlfriend at a Spanish hotel. Keith Byrne, 34, was found guilty of the shocking 2023 murder after three days of jury deliberations. 3 3 3 He was found to have strangled Kirsty Ward to death with a hair straightener power cord after she said she was leaving him. The ex-Irish Guards and Parachute Regiment soldier claimed during his trial in Tarragona that the 36-year-old mum-of-one had died by suicide in their hotel. But he described himself as a "respectful and intelligent" father who would never commit an act of domestic violence. He also demonised Kirsty, claiming she could be 'four people in one day' - especially after binging on alcohol and cocaine. The trial judge announced he was retiring to consider his sentence after the jury's decision late last night. Jurors had begun their deliberations on Monday following the May 1 Bank Holiday. However, Byrne is not expected to find out for nearly a month how much jail time he will be handed. A private prosecutor for acting for Kirsty's family is pushing for a 30 year sentence, while public prosecutor Javier Goimil urged the judge to jail him for 20 years. Goimil's pre-trial demand was lowered by a year as he accepted Byrne's prior use of drink and drugs as a mitigating circumstance after jurors ruled he had 'diminished cognitive and volitional faculties" when he killed Kirsty. The prosecutor, a domestic violence specialist, rubbished Byrne's court claim that Kirsty died by suicide during his closing speech. He claimed the ex-soldier had decided "You're mine or you're nobody's" and strangled his girlfriend to death when she said she wanted out of the relationship. Forensic evidence pointed to Kirsty being strangled from behind after 'incapacitating herself' with alcohol and cocaine, he said. He told the court: "Byrne has adapted his version of events of what happened in that timeframe nearly two years on in accordance with the evidence he's learnt there is against him. "He's saying Kirsty tied a cable round her neck and attached it to the door knob but in the state she was in it would have been impossible for her to do that and there's nothing showing there was a knot in the cable. "What's occurred here is a violent and painful death, a strangulation from behind where someone is pulling from the front to the back. This was not a suicide." He added that she had not left a note for her relatives and had bought a plane ticket back to her hometown Dublin for July 4. "Kirsty's relationship with Byrne was very toxic, very intense and very emotional," he said. "She decided to end it during the week they stayed at the hotel in Salou and her partner couldn't accept that decision." He further said that the volume of alcohol Kirsty had drunk ahead of her death would have impacted significantly on her ability to defend herself. Following his arrest in Spain it emerged that Byrne was was wanted in England by Royal Military Police for going absent without leave after he left for Ireland in 2017. Byrne's defence lawyer Jordi Cabre had been seeking acquittal for his client before the jury verdict - and asked the judge afterwards to hand down the "minimum sentence". Kirsty's mum Jackie Ward called Byrne someone she 'didn't like' and 'didn't trust' on the first day of the trial. She was asked when giving evidence if she thought her daughter could have died by suicide. But she said: "She did everything for her son. She would never ever leave him. She would never do that to him." Domestic abuse - how to get help DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence. Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship: Emotional abuse - Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse - gaslighting - being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to Threats and intimidation - Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you Physical abuse - This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten. Sexual abuse - Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent. If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers: The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night Men who are being abused can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244 Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428 If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999 Remember, you are not alone. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime. Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
Irish Times
08-05-2025
- Irish Times
‘Our beautiful Kirsty': Family thank jury after man found guilty of murdering Irish partner at Spanish hotel
A Dublin man has been found guilty of murdering mother-of-one Kirsty Ward at their hotel in Spain. Jurors during the trial in the Spanish city of Tarragona found Keith Byrne guilty after three days of deliberations. Byrne (34) strangled Ms Ward to death with a hair-straightener power cord on July 2nd, 2023 after she told him she was leaving him, the trial heard. The former solder had claimed during his trial that Ms Ward (36) had died by suicide at their four-star Magnolia Hotel on the Costa Daurada, south of Barcelona. READ MORE He had described himself as a 'respectful and intelligent' father-of-three who would never commit an act of domestic violence - and demonised Ms Ward as someone who could be 'four people in one day', especially after binging on alcohol and cocaine which he claimed made their romance 'toxic'. Kirsty Ward's family said in a statement after the jury verdict: 'Our family wish to thank our private prosecutor Estela Cortes and her team for guiding, supporting and representing Kirsty, her son and our family at this very difficult and painful time; Javier Goimil the public prosecutor for his commitment and passion; the Spanish investigation teams and police for their expertise, empathy and understanding; and the jury for seeing and believing in what was the truth about our beautiful Kirsty. 'Our family now request our privacy to be respected, while we grieve and come to terms with all that has happened during the past two years.' The trial judge announced he was retiring to consider his sentence after the jury decision late on Wednesday night - as is normal in Spain - and Byrne is not expected to be sentenced for up to a month. Public prosecutor Javier Goimil urged the judge to jail him for 20 years. He lowered his initial pre-trial demand by a year as he accepted Byrne's prior use of drink and drugs as a mitigating circumstance after jurors ruled he had 'diminished cognitive and volitional faculties' when he killed Ms Ward. A private prosecutor acting for Ms Ward's family said she was still seeking the 30-year sentence she argued for before and during the trial. . During his closing speech to the jury, Mr Goimil said Byrne, who had been living in Duleek, Co Meath, decided: 'You're mine or you're nobody's' and strangled Ms Ward because she wanted to leave.. He said the forensic evidence showed Ms Ward had been strangled from behind between 8pm and 10pm on July 2nd, 2023 after 'incapacitating herself' with alcohol and cocaine. He told the court: 'Byrne has adapted his version of events of what happened in that timeframe nearly two years on in accordance with the evidence he's learnt there is against him.' 'What's occurred here is a violent and painful death, a strangulation from behind where someone is pulling from the front to the back. This was not a suicide.' He added: 'She didn't leave a note for her son or her siblings or her mum and what's more, she had bought a plane ticket back to Dublin for July 4th.' Ms Ward's relationship with Byrne was very toxic, very intense and very emotional, he told the court. Ms Ward's mother Jackie Ward described Byrne as someone she 'didn't like' and 'didn't trust' on day one of the trial on April 23nd and said she had found out after her daughter's death she had planned to leave him during their 'make or break' holiday. Jurors started deliberating on Monday. Byrne's defence lawyer Jordi Cabre had been seeking his client's acquittal before the jury verdict and afterwards asked the judge to hand down the 'minimum sentence'. Jackie Ward described her daughter after her death as a 'fantastic friend' to her parents and 'an absolutely adored daughter.' She told the congregation at her funeral Mass at the Church of John the Evangelist in Ballinteer, Dublin in July 2023 that she had been an amazing mother to her son. 'To me she was a fantastic friend and an absolutely adored daughter to myself and John. She was a caring sister, a cherished granddaughter and much loved niece and cousin. A loyal and true friend.'
Irish Times
08-05-2025
- Irish Times
Man found guilty of murdering Irish partner at Spanish hotel after she told him she was leaving him
A Dublin man has been found guilty of murdering mother-of-one Kirsty Ward at their hotel in Spain. Jurors found Keith Byrne guilty after three days of deliberations. Byrne (34) strangled Ms Ward to death with a hair-straightener power cord after she told him she was leaving him, the trial heard. The former solder had claimed during his trial in the eastern Spanish city of Tarragona that Ms Ward (36) had died by suicide at their four-star Magnolia Hotel on the Costa Daurada. READ MORE He described himself as a 'respectful and intelligent' father-of-three who would never commit an act of domestic violence - and demonised Ms Ward as someone who could be 'four people in one day' especially after binging on alcohol and cocaine which he claimed made their romance 'toxic'. The trial judge announced he was retiring to consider his sentence after the jury decision late on Wednesday night - as is normal in Spain - and Byrne is not expected to find out for nearly a month how much time he will have to serve. A private prosecutor acting for Ms Ward's family said she was still seeking the 30-year sentence she argued for before and during the trial. Public prosecutor Javier Goimil urged the judge to jail him for 20 years for his July 2nd, 2023 crime. He lowered his initial pre-trial demand by a year as he accepted Byrne's prior use of drink and drugs as a mitigating circumstance after jurors ruled he had 'diminished cognitive and volitional faculties' when he killed Ms Ward. The killer was led handcuffed from the court. Mr Goimil told the jury that the former soldier, who had been living in Duleek, Co Meath, decided: 'You're mine or you're nobody's' and strangled his girlfriend to death because she wanted to leave.. He said the forensic evidence pointed to Ms Ward had been strangled from behind between 8pm and 10pm on July 2nd, 2023 after 'incapacitating herself' with alcohol and cocaine. He told the court: 'Byrne has adapted his version of events of what happened in that timeframe nearly two years on in accordance with the evidence he's learnt there is against him.' He added: 'She didn't leave a note for her son or her siblings or her mum and what's more she had bought a plane ticket back to Dublin for July 4th.' Ms Ward's relationship with Byrne was very toxic, very intense and very emotional, he told the court. Ms Ward's mother Jackie Ward described Byrne as someone she 'didn't like' and 'didn't trust' on day one of the trial on April 23nd and said she had found out after her daughter's death she had planned to leave him during their 'make or break' holiday. Jurors started deliberating on Monday after the May 1st bank holiday. Byrne's defence lawyer Jordi Cabre had been seeking his client's acquittal before the jury verdict and afterwards asked the judge to hand down the 'minimum sentence'. Jackie Ward described her daughter after her death as a 'fantastic friend' to her parents and 'an absolutely adored daughter.' She told the congregation at the Church of John the Evangelist in Ballinteer, Dublin in July 2023 that she had been an amazing mum to her son. 'To me she was a fantastic friend and an absolutely adored daughter to myself and John. She was a caring sister, a cherished granddaughter and much loved niece and cousin. A loyal and true friend.'
