A GARDA has told a murder trial how he recalled seeing “ten to 15” round bales of silage at the location of the tank where the remains of Bobby Ryan were subsequently found.

Garda Tom Finan said he only realised yesterday the exact location of the tank where the body was found, after looking at an aerial photograph of Mary Lowry’s farm at Fawnagowan, Co Tipperary.

He originally thought the body was found in a slurry tank on the farm, he told the trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Garda Finan said he became “unhappy” with his initial evidence after seeing a report on television, last Friday week, which included aerial footage from the back of the farm.

Questioned by Bernard Condon SC for the Defence, Garda Finan was asked how he came to be unhappy about it, he replied: “I knew I hadn’t seen the tank where the tank has been portrayed.”

“Portrayed by who?” Mr Condon asked and Garda Finan replied: “I suppose by the media.”

Garda Finan explained that he had been having coffee in the second floor of the Courts of Criminal Justice Complex with his colleagues when he asked to see an aerial photo of the farm.

He subsequently made a second statement in the CCJ, where he outlined how he had seen “ten to  15 round bales of silage” where this tank was located.

“I searched that area and found nothing there in relation to a tank,” he told the trial, of the initial Missing Persons search on June 7 2011.

Farmer Patrick Quirke (50) of Breanshamore, Co Tipperary has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Bobby Ryan, a DJ known as Mr Moonlight, on a date between June 3 2011 and April 2013.

Under close cross questioning by Mr Condon, Garda Finan said he had asked the lead investigator on the search team, Sgt Cathal Godfrey, if he could see the photo.

He said he had seen this photo for the first time in the Coffee Dock yesterday.

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