Keith Byrne, a thirty-four-year-old former Irish soldier, has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend, Kirsty Ward, at a hotel in Salou, Spain. During the trial, it emerged that Byrne strangled the thirty-six-year-old mother of one with a power cord from a hair straightener after she expressed her intention to leave him. Byrne initially claimed that Ward had died by suicide, but the jury rejected this assertion.

The public prosecutor has requested a twenty-year prison sentence, citing Byrne’s use of alcohol and drugs as mitigating factors. However, a private prosecutor representing Ward’s family has countered with a call for a thirty-year sentence, arguing that the circumstances of the case warrant harsher punishment.

The trial featured testimony from a domestic violence specialist, who believed Byrne’s actions were driven by a possessive mindset. It was revealed that Ward’s blood alcohol levels might have impaired her ability to defend herself during the attack, adding to the prosecution’s case.

Kirsty Ward’s family has expressed their gratitude to the jury for recognising the truth about her and has requested privacy as they process the events of the last two years. Sentencing for Keith Byrne is scheduled for next month.