‘Our beautiful Kirsty': Family thank jury after man found guilty of murdering Irish partner at Spanish hotel
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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Murder of mother and children has shaken Co Fermanagh community to its core, service told
The murder of a mother and her two children in Co Fermanagh has shaken the community 'to its core', mourners have heard. A service of removal has taken place in Maguiresbridge for Vanessa Whyte and her children James Rutledge (14), and Sara Rutledge (13), ahead of their funeral in Co Clare on Saturday. The three family members died in a shooting incident at a property in Drummeer Road in the Co Fermanagh village a week ago. Agricultural contractor Ian Rutledge (43), who died on Monday, is understood to be the only suspect in the shooting of his family. READ MORE Last week, police said a triple murder and attempted suicide was a line of inquiry. Mourners gathered at St Mary's Church in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday morning, with several dressed in bright colours following a request from the family. Large crowds, including from local GAA clubs, lined the streets outside the church in advance of the service. Among those who attended the service were Northern Ireland's first minister Michelle O'Neill, former first minister Baroness Arlene Foster, environment minister Andrew Muir and Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen. Shortly after 11am the three coffins arrived and were brought to the front of the church as the hymn Abide By Me was sung. During the service, a reading was delivered by Elizabeth Armstrong, principal of Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, where Sara and James were pupils. In his homily, Father Raymond Donnelly said people had gathered in a church 'filled with grief'. He added: 'There is a heaviness in the air, a silence within our hearts, that speaks volumes. 'The tragedy we have endured has shaken this community, and our country, to its core. 'We are left shocked, grieving, heartbroken, searching for meaning, grappling with questions too deep for words.' He added: 'The loss of Vanessa and her two beautiful children, James and Sara – lives taken in such an unspeakable way – is more than any heart should bear. 'A woman full of kindness and warmth, a friend to so many here. 'And her children, so young, so vibrant, so full of promise. 'Their laughter rang through school corridors, through playing fields, especially on the GAA pitch, where they thrived with passion and joy. 'That zest for life, their infectious energy, their open smiles. 'Words fail us. And when words fail, we turn to the word of God.' The priest told the grieving family members 'you are not alone'. He added: 'We stand with you. 'We hold you in prayer and embrace. We do not have answers, but we offer presence. We offer prayer. We offer love. 'To the classmates of Sara and James and to all the friends, know that it is OK to feel confused, angry, sad and to cry. 'Please speak to someone. Speak to your parents, to your teachers, to your clergy.' Fr Donnelly told mourners that grief is 'not something to carry alone'. He added: 'It is a journey we make together. 'To all involved in sport – to coaches, teammates, mentors – thank you for the joy you helped nurture in these children. 'Their bright spirits will remain a part of every game played in their memory. 'And we take a moment to thank all first responders and medics. Thank you for your service under unimaginable circumstances. 'Thank you to all who have come forward with meals, hugs, tears, prayers, practical and pastoral support or a silent presence. 'You remind us that light still flickers, even on the darkest of days.' Candles were then lit in memory of the three victims. The service finished with the singing of the hymn Nearer My God to Thee as the coffins left the church. The three wooden coffins were then carried side by side along the main road in the village as hundreds followed and many more lined the street. The bodies will be taken to Barefield in Co Clare, where Ms Whyte was originally from, ahead of their funeral Mass on Saturday. The three will then be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery. - PA
Irish Examiner
21 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Man who repeatedly failed to provide fingerprints to facilitate deportation jailed for two months
A man facing a deportation order has repeatedly failed to provide fingerprints to facilitate his deportation and on Tuesday he was jailed for two months. Defence solicitor Killian McCarthy said the man had been working and contributing to Irish society and did not understand why he was being deported. Judge Philip O'Leary said the defendant's deportation was not a matter that was before Cork District Court on Tuesday, and he was only dealing with the failure to provide fingerprints. Mr McCarthy said Oudach Mbarak, of Mandeville Lane, Waterford, was pleading guilty to that offence. The accused, who is in his 30s, appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison. Inspector Ray Dunne said the accused man was requested at the Cork district courthouse on June 24 to complete an identification form and asked for his fingerprints to be taken to assist in obtaining a travel document required for the purpose of deportation. 'Mr Mbarak failed to cooperate and refused to supply the requested information on an ID form and did not consent to have his fingerprints taken,' Insp Dunne said. The inspector said this was the defendant's third conviction for the same offence. He failed to provide his fingerprints when required on May 8, and again on June 3. Both of these offences were dealt with together at Cork District Court on July 1 when he was given a two-month sentence for the second offence and the first count was taken into consideration. Judge Philip O'Leary said: 'This is his third time not giving fingerprints. It is not getting better. He will be getting a longer sentence.' Mr McCarthy said the accused pleaded guilty to the offence and he asked for the sentence to be backdated to the beginning of July when he went into custody. Judge O'Leary said he had been contemplating a three-month sentence. Instead of backdating this sentence he said instead he would impose a sentence of two months to commence on Tuesday. The charge under the Immigration Act 1999 is a count which states: 'On June 24 at Cork District Court, Anglesea Street, Cork, being a person in respect of whom a deportation order was signed on October 31 2024 under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and having been so required by a person authorised by the mnister, namely Garda Sinead McCarthy, did fail to affix your fingerprints to a document to facilitate your deportation from the State.'
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
ieExplains: Who is new Garda commissioner Justin Kelly?
From September, a new man will be in charge of An Garda Síochána. Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan announced on Tuesday that Justin Kelly will be replacing Drew Harris as Garda commissioner. Here, we look at who Mr Kelly is, and what his career path has been to date. Where is Justin Kelly from? Mr Kelly is a native of Dublin. How long has Justin Kelly been a garda? Mr Kelly first joined the gardaí in 1992. From then up until 2017, he held a number of ranks including garda, sergeant, and inspector. He served as a frontline inspector in Blanchardstown and Clondalkin. In 2001, he was seconded to work for the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he worked monitoring and building the capacity of local law enforcement. In 2017, he was appointed as a detective superintendent in the Garda National Protective Services Bureau. His work there led to an appointment as detective chief superintendent in the Special Detective Unit in 2020. There, he was tasked with leading the Operational Counter-Terrorism Unit. When was Justin Kelly appointed as assistant commissioner? From May 2022 to October 2024, Mr Kelly served as the assistant commissioner in charge of Serious and Organised Crime. In his role, he was responsible for the national units and investigations into drugs and organised crime, cybercrime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. Mr Kelly was appointed deputy commissioner for Security, Strategy and Governance in October 2024. What about his education and qualifications? Mr Kelly has a bachelor's in civil law from UCD, a master of criminal justice from John Jay College in New York, a master of business administration from DCU, a master of serious crime investigation from the University of Limerick and has completed a strategic command course at the College of Policing, UK. What will his new salary be? The salary for the Garda commissioner role is currently €314,512. The Department of Justice says this reflects "the size and unique complexity of leading An Garda Síochána, which is a very large policing service with over 18,000 employees, and includes lead responsibility for the security of the State". When will he start as Garda commissioner? Mr Kelly will take up the new role on September 1, with Mr Harris remaining as commissioner until that date. He is eligible to serve a five-year term, or until reaching the retirement age of 62. There is provision in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, 2024, for an extension of up to two further years, subject to Government approval. Read More Justin Kelly to succeed Drew Harris as new Garda Commissioner
