Patrick Quirke’s Breansha Farms: Profits Amid Murder Conviction

Patrick Quirke and Breansha Farms

Patrick Quirke, convicted of murdering DJ Bobby Ryan, owns a majority share in Breansha Farms, which he founded in 2014. Despite his life sentence, the farm was profitable, earning €84,789 last year. This profit decreased from €143,587 in 2022 but shows improvement from €62,421 in 2021. Quirke had resigned as a director three weeks after his conviction in May 2019 but still holds a 51% share. His wife, Imelda, owns the remaining 49%.

Recent financial reports indicate that Breansha Farms has net assets of €679,988, up from €595,199 in 2022. This recovery follows significant losses in 2019 and 2020, when the farm recorded losses of €1,700 and €23,000, respectively. During the trial, prosecutors described Quirke as acting out of jealousy. They alleged that he concealed Ryan’s body in a run-off tank after the DJ began dating Mary Lowry, Quirke’s former lover.

Quirke’s complicated financial background included investments and gambling. He claimed Mary Lowry had entrusted him with €80,000, which he used for contracts for difference trading. The prosecution argued that he exploited her for financial gain. Quirke was under financial pressure before the murder.

Quirke received legal aid during his trial. In July 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal against his murder conviction. The court ruled against his argument that evidence from computers seized by police should not have been used. The judges found the warrant application mistake was unintentional and upheld the original conviction.

Quirke aimed to challenge his conviction after the Supreme Court stated in March 2023 that police unlawfully searched his computer. The court decided that the search was a significant invasion of privacy, which should have required judicial authorization.