Show of the Week: The Murder of Mr. Moonlight

The disappearance and murder of Bobby Ryan made headlines in Ireland and led to one of the country’s longest criminal trials. Much of the attention, however, fell on the accused murderer rather than the victim, something The Murder of Mr Moonlight seeks to rectify.

The show is based on Catherine Fegan’s book of the same name and explores how Ryan – known as Mr. Moonlight because of his DJ work - went missing in rural Tipperary in 2011, before his body was discovered two years later in an underground slurry tank.

Kim Varvell, joint chief exec of Conker Pictures, had not heard of the case before moving to Belfast but after finding out about it, mentioned it to business partner and fellow Conker chief exec Tommy Bulfin. Together, they looked into the tragic story and realised there was far more to it than meets the eye.

“We were immediately drawn to the characters and to what the story was beyond the headlines,” Varvell says. “The case is at times stranger than fiction with all the twists and turns - that’s what makes it so intriguing. It’s a very human story and we were interested in exploring these characters, in particular Bobby and his family.”

Much of the reporting at the time was focussed on Patrick Quirke (the murderer) and his affair with Bobby’s girlfriend Mary Lowry, Varvel says, but Bobby’s voice seemed to get lost.

“When we started researching the case we got such a strong sense of Bobby as an adored father, grandfather, friend and much loved member of the community. In telling this drama we wanted to give a voice back to Bobby and show the very human cost of this tragedy.”

The show has the full cooperation of Bobby’s daughter Michelle Ryan. Lead actors Brendan Coyle and Hazel Doupe (who play Bobby and Michelle, respectively) were able to meet Ryan to better understand the father/daughter relationship, which Varvell says sits at the heart of the series.

Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did) is adapting, with Meadhbh McHugh and Paul Howard also writing, while Daithaí Keane and Rachel Carey are directors.

Varvell says the series is as accurate and truthful as possible, with extensive research undertaken during development that not only used Fegan’s book but also the hundreds of articles, documentaries, radio shows and podcasts that surround the case.

“We also conducted our own interviews with those closest to the case, including those central to the investigation. These all fed into a research pack, which included public documents, articles, photos and timelines, which the editorial team and cast had access to throughout the process,” Varvell ads.

The hope is that the series will provide a new angle on the story that tells Bobby’s story more fully.

“We’ve found that most people tend to know the bare facts and often only the most salacious, attention-grabbing details stick in their minds. The series aims to go beyond the click bait headlines and really examine the human cost of this story,” says Varvell.

She adds that the dramatic retelling allows the series to get to “the emotional truth and the heart of the people involved”, unlike factual shows on the case.

“These were not public figures but rather real people who were thrust into the spotlight, so the series not only explores one of most remarkable criminal investigations in modern Irish history but also lets us understand the real people whose lives were profoundly affected by these events.”

Simon Cox, exec vice president of content & acquisitions at Banijay Rights, adds that the drama’s specificity in its setting and location will engage buyers, while the themes at the heart of the story feel very global in its appeal.

“It’s a story about a love triangle, about murder, jealousy, greed and fight for control over both land and over people. The central mystery gives audiences a reason to keep watching, even if they’ve never heard of the case before,” he says.

“Yet at its heart, it’s a deeply human story which is ultimately about a community, about how stories like these can be distorted in the public eye, about a daughter searching for justice for her father, and about the human cost of a tragedy like this.”