RTE’s ‘The Murder Of Mr. Moonlight’ To Explore Infamous Irish Killing; BBC & Banijay Rights On Board Drama Series

EXCLUSIVE: Ireland’s RTÉ will explore one of the most talked-about murders of recent Irish history in a drama series. The Murder of Mr. Moonlight, from Conker Pictures and Samson Films, has been pre-bought by the BBC, we hear, with Conker’s Banijay Entertainment stablemate Banijay Rights also attached. Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did) is adapting Catherine Fegan’s book of the same name, with Meadhbh McHugh and Paul Howard also writing. Daithaí Keane and Rachel Carey are the directors. The series focuses on the disappearance and murder of Bobby Ryan, known locally as ‘Mr. Moonlight,’ and the events that would lead to one of Ireland’s longest-ever murder trials. Ryan, Bobby Ryan, affectionately known as ‘Mr. Moonlight’ due to his work as a local DJ and entertainer, went missing in June 2011 and his body discovered two years later in an underground slurry runoff tank. Watch on Deadline Brendan Coyle (Toxic Town, Hit Point) stars as Bobby Ryan, with Owen McDonnell (Killing Eve, Bad Sisters) as Patrick Quirke, who was ultimately found guilty of the killing and sentenced to life imprisonment, and Sinéad Keenan (Unforgotten, Little Boy Blue) as Mary Lowry, Ryan’s girlfriend and Quirke’s former lover. They are joined by Hazel Doupe (Say Nothing, Kathleen is Here) as Bobby’s daughter Michelle Ryan, Carolyn Bracken (Oddity, The Gone) as Patrick’s wife Imelda Quirke and Ian Lloyd Anderson (The Long Shadow, Blood). Additional cast includes Danny Power (The Young Offenders), Helena Browne (Leonard and Hungry Paul), Muiris Crowley (Foundation), Aidan O’Hare (Bad Sisters), Emmet Byrne (Alex Rider) and Pom Boyd (The Dry). Set within a close-knit rural community in County Tipperary, The Murder of Mr. Moonlight will look at the relationships, secrets and tensions that lay behind a case which captivated Ireland for more than a decade. “I was drawn to this story because of the people caught up in it, the human factor, the cost of it all,” said writer Campbell. “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. The show is based on Fegan’s book and extensive research and interviews, and for RTÉ marks the first in a potential strand of dramas exploring extraordinary true stories from modern Ireland. Earlier this year, RTÉ announced it would produced a record of 160 hours of Irish drama in 2026, an increase on last year’s 142 hours. As such, RTÉ is the commissioner in association with the BBC, Screen Ireland, media regulator Coimisiún na Meán and Banijay Rights, which will have international distribution. David Crean, Head of Drama at RTÉ said: “This moving human story is brought to life with the help of an amazing cast, and directed with real sensitivity by Daithaí Keane and Rachel Carey.” London-based Conker, which is part of Banijay UK and behind BBC Northern Ireland comedy series Rewarding, co-produces alongside Samson Films, a Dublin-based TV and film house known for the likes of Aidan Gillen-starrer Gorky Resort and LGBTQ period drama Ancestors, which stars Éanna Hardwicke, Jack Wolfe, Jessica Reynolds, Rupert Everett and Christina Hendricks. The executive producers are Kim Varvell and Tommy Bulfin for Conker, David Collins for Samson, writer Campbell, Crean for RTÉ, Kate McColgan and Sarah Dillon for Screen Ireland, and Cathy Payne and Simon Cox for executive producers for Banijay Rights. Alex Jones is series producer and Therese Friel is producer. “The Murder of Mr. Moonlight is one of the most significant crime stories in recent Irish history,” said Varvell and Bulfin, in a statement. “Our ambition has always been to move beyond the headlines and explore the human story behind the case. “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 case surrounding the real-life murder of Bobby Ryan gripped the nation due to its shocking courtroom revelations and intense media scrutiny,” said Samson’s Collins. “The Murder of Mr. Moonlight does not aim merely to re-enact these events but to interpret them with psychological depth and emotional sensitivity. The series prioritises a respectful tone that, above all, seeks to honour Bobby and all who were affected by these extraordinary events.”Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Scripted Pre-Buy Acquisitions, noted that while the case “has gripped Ireland for many years,” it “remains relatively unknown in the UK. I cannot think of a better team to bring this extraordinary and heartbreaking story to a wider audience.” Transmission details on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player will be announced “in due course.” No word on the BBC’s timings yet either.