The Daily Star Ireland
Former Irish soldier Keith Byrne has been convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Kirsty Ward, during a holiday in Spain. The verdict, delivered by a jury in Tarragona after three days of deliberation, found Byrne guilty of strangling Ward with a hair straightener cord at the Magnolia Hotel in Salou on July 2, 2023. Byrne, 34, had claimed Ward died by suicide, but forensic evidence and testimonies contradicted his account.
Prosecutors argued that Byrne killed Ward, 36, after she expressed her intention to end their relationship. They presented evidence indicating that Ward had been strangled from behind while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, impairing her ability to defend herself. The court heard that Ward had purchased a plane ticket to return to Dublin on July 4, suggesting plans to leave Byrne.
Byrne’s defense portrayed him as a respectful father of three, denying any history of domestic violence. However, the prosecution highlighted prior allegations of violence from former partners and noted that Byrne had been wanted by UK authorities for going AWOL from the military in 2017.
The jury’s decision acknowledged that Byrne’s cognitive and volitional faculties were diminished due to substance use at the time of the crime. Consequently, public prosecutor Javier Goimil recommended a 20-year prison sentence, reduced from an initial 21-year request. A private prosecutor representing Ward’s family is seeking the maximum sentence of 30 years. The judge is expected to announce the final sentence within a month.
Ward’s mother, Jackie Ward, testified that her daughter would never have taken her own life, emphasizing her dedication to her 14-year-old son. She described Byrne as untrustworthy and revealed that Ward had planned to leave him during their “make or break” holiday.
Following the verdict, Ward’s family expressed gratitude to the jury, prosecutors, and supporters. They have raised over €32,000 through a fundraising campaign to cover legal expenses. In a statement, the family requested privacy as they continue to grieve and come to terms with their loss.
