The infamous ‘Mr Moonlight’ murder case, which gripped the nation seven years ago, is being turned into a major TV drama for RTÉ and the BBC.

The new five-part series is based on the story of the killing of truck driver and part-time DJ Bobby Ryan. Set within a close-knit rural community, The Murder Of Mr Moonlight explores the relationships, secrets and tensions behind a case that captivated the country.

In May 2019, Tipperary farmer Patrick Quirke was found guilty and sentenced to life in jail for the murder of Bobby Ryan. Quirke, 50, of Breanshamore, south of Tipperary town, had denied murdering 52-year-old Mr Ryan, who did DJ work locally under his Mr Moonlight moniker.

The jury delivered a majority guilty verdict after a 15-week hearing which turned out to be the longest murder trial in the history of the State.

Mr Ryan had gone missing on June 3, 2011, after leaving the farm owned by his girlfriend, Mary Lowry. His body was later reported found by Quirke in a nearby underground run-off tank on April 30, 2013.

The prosecution said Quirke killed Mr Ryan and later staged the discovery of his remains because his lease on the farm was coming to an end and he feared the body would be discovered by someone else.

Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) stars as Bobby Ryan alongside Owen McDonnell (Killing Eve, Bad Sisters) as Patrick Quirke, with Sinéad Keenan (Unforgotten) taking the role of Mary Lowry.

Prosecutors said the trial was about ‘love and money’ and that Quirke was financially and emotionally dependent on Ms Lowry and tried to sabotage her relationship with Mr Ryan. Quirke told gardaí in April 2013 that he had been pumping water from the disused tank when he discovered Mr Ryan’s body.

A postmortem showed that Mr Ryan, who was also a quarry worker, had died from blunt force trauma. He had suffered multiple fractures to his skull and to his ribs and leg.

Gardaí found evidence that a home computer had been used to search for the rate of decomposition of human remains in water. The prosecution said this ‘could not be explained away’ and that it would be an affront to common sense to find Quirke not guilty.

Defence lawyers had argued that the case against Quirke was based on a theory and not on any hard evidence. Quirke had been best friends with Ms Lowry’s late husband and, after his death, the court heard he offered her help on the farm, from which their friendship developed into a relationship.

The relationship eventually ended, but Quirke continued to have access to the farm under a seven-year lease agreement. The jury heard that the affair was briefly re-established after Mr Ryan’s disappearance.

The series consists of five one-hour episodes, some of which were filmed at locations in Co Meath. It is produced by Conker Pictures and Samson Films for RTÉ, in association with the BBC, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán, with Banijay Rights handling international distribution.

The writer of the drama, Malcolm Campbell, said: ‘I was drawn to this story because of the people caught up in it, the human factor, the cost of it all. At its heart are real people whose lives were profoundly affected by these events.

‘Our responsibility has been to approach the process with care, sensitivity and rigorous research, while exploring the relationships and circumstances that made this case so compelling.’

Kim Varvell and Tommy Bulfin of Conker Pictures, said: ‘The Murder Of Mr. Moonlight is one of the most significant crime stories in recent Irish history. At the heart of the story is Bobby Ryan, whose life was tragically cut short. However, even after his death, his story was overshadowed by the media’s fascination with Pat Quirke and his former lover, Mary Lowry. This drama intends to give a voice back to Bobby and his family.’

The BBC’s Sue Deeks said: ‘This case has gripped Ireland for many years, but remains relatively unknown in the UK. I cannot think of a better team to bring this extraordinary and heartbreaking story to a wider audience.’

The series is directed by Dathaí Keane and Rachel Carey and written by Malcolm Campbell, Meadhbh McHugh and Paul Howard. It is based on Catherine Fegan’s book, The Murder Of Mr Moonlight. The drama is expected to be broadcast on RTÉ and the BBC in the coming months.