Life in jail for wife-killer O'Reilly
Dubliner Joe O’Reilly was tonight convicted of murdering his wife Rachel after a four-week trial that gripped Ireland.
The 35-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment.
After nine hours of deliberations, a jury at Dublin’s Central Criminal Court found O’Reilly guilty of bludgeoning the mother-of-two to death in their north Dublin home.
He had denied lying in wait at Lambay View, Baldaragh, The Naul, Co Dublin on October 4, 2004 and murdering 30-year-old Rachel.
Rachel’s mother Rose Callaly, who found her body, and her father Jim, cried as the verdict was returned.
Members of the public who had squeezed into the courtroom cheered as the foreman returned the unanimous verdict.
O’Reilly showed no emotion before being led to the court cells by prison guards.
Rachel’s heartbroken siblings Ann, Declan, Anthony and Paul hugged each other.
Trial judge Mr Justice Barry White told the jurors that in all his years as a barrister and judge he had never seen a case attract such media coverage. He said every time he turned on the radio or television the trial was headline news.
Mrs Callaly told the court that even though justice had been done, her family’s grief would never be diminished.
In a victim impact statement she described how Rachel had been subjected to a barbaric 20 minute attack.
Her victim impact statement said: "Almost three years ago, Rachel kissed her beloved Luke and Adam goodbye and for the next 20 minutes was subjected to the most horrific, violent and barbaric attack that no human being should ever have to go through.
"We are haunted by the thoughts of what happened to our beautiful daughter and sister that morning.
"From that moment on the lives of everyone who knew Rachel and loved her were thrown into turmoil. Every day we find it so difficult to accept ther devastation of her death, we struggle to come to terms with the fact that she is now gone forever. There are days when we are overwhelmed by grief. Sleepless nights, nightmares and panic attacks have become the norm for us.
"Rachel, if I could have given my life for you that awful day, I would have. You are such a big part of our life.
"We hope that you can now rest in peace, my darling, your loving mam and dad, brothers, sister and sister-in-law.
"Declan and Denise, Paul and Denise, Ann and Anthony and your two sons Luke and Adam."
Mrs Callaly said her family had been haunted every day and that they were still trying to come to terms with the horrific realisation that they could do nothing to bring her back.
Rose Callaly, Rachel O'Reilly's mother, speaks of her relief after the jury found Joe O'Reilly guilty of her daughter's murder
Superintendent Joe Kelly, part of the garda team investigating Rachel O'Reilly's murder
