Valerie French 'savagely slaughtered' by 'remorseless' husband James Kilroy

Eoin Reynolds

Valerie French was "savagely slaughtered" and died in terror at the hands of her husband James Kilroy, who has shown no remorse and tried to avoid accountability for her murder, the victim's brother told the Central Criminal Court on Monday.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt sentenced Kilroy on Monday afternoon to the mandatory term of life imprisonment. At his trial, Kilroy pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but a jury rejected that defence last week.

Before sentence was passed on Monday, Ms French's brother David French told the court that the family is traumatised that Valerie's killer is a man they welcomed into their homes. Mr French identified his sister's "broken body" and saw the injuries where Kilroy strangled and stabbed her.

"I can still see the horror on her face as she lay on the mortuary slab. Valerie was savagely slaughtered. She was not resting in peace."

He added: "Her life was taken in the cruellest, most violent and terrifying way possible and her broken body lies in a grave in West Cork. That is the impact."

Their mother, who was in "deep shock and could not come to terms with this evil act," died soon after Valerie's death. "I believe that for our mother the impact was a death sentence," Mr French said.

He added: "My sisters and I have been consumed by this since the murder and there is no end in sight. We have lost someone who was a continual source of joy and loving consideration.

"Crimes like this have a ripple effect on relationships, employment and health. Our children have been deeply traumatised by the sudden loss of their beloved Aunt Valerie and haunted by thoughts of the killer who we welcomed into our family and as a guest in our homes."

Valerie's wide circle of friends, classmates, colleagues, relatives and neighbours have all been shocked, he said. Referring to Kilroy, Mr French said: "There is no forgetting, there is no forgiveness and there never will be."

Valerie was not a "shrinking violet nor a dominant character", he said, and as an occupational therapist spent her work-life helping others. "She enabled, supported and gave space to her killer. Like most people, my sister Valerie simply wanted a marriage with a loving home in which to raise a family," he said.

Since murdering his wife, Kilroy has "attempted to control the narrative, to minimise it completely and to avoid accountability. To date, no remorse in any form whatsoever has ever been shown to us. Without real remorse, there is no rehabilitation."

Kilroy (51) murdered his wife at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, between June 13th and June 14th, 2019.