Eamonn Lillis has been remanded in custody until tomorrow after a sentencing hearing for the manslaughter of his wife Celine Cawley was adjourned.
The Central Criminal Court heard this morning that Lillis, who was convicted of manslaughter last Friday after a 14-day trial, was "extremely sorry and regretful" for what happened on the day of this wife's death, and for the lies he subsequently told.
The 52-year-old TV advertising director, originally from Terenure, Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife on December 15th, 2008, at their home on Windgate Road, Howth.
Last Friday, the jury found Lillis not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. It said the State had failed to prove intent. Mr Justice Barry White said that knowing the reason for the jury’s decision would be of assistance in sentencing.
Sergeant Gary Kelly this morning revisited the evidence heard during the trial, after which statements were read to the court.
A victim impact statement by Ms Cawley's sister Susanna was read out in court by prosecuting barrister Mary Ellen Ring.
Ms Cawley's sister said it was “next to impossible to put into writing what has happened our lives since December 15th, 2008”.
She said: "The good-humoured, fun, compassionate, caring sister is entirely deleted from my mind...it is the not knowing that is the real haunting part."
She said her memory of her sister is ruined and she could see no evidence that Lillis is repentant: “The lack of remorse is also hard to credit despite 13 months opportunity to at least apologise …no apology has been forthcoming," she said. "For Celine and for those of us who mourn her deeply we were utterly deprived of any dignity, spirituality or peace."
She said he took advantage of the Cawley family with lies and there were many questions that remain unanswered.
"Was she in pain? Was she conscious? Did she think of [her daughter]? Did she know she was dying? There is one person who knows the answer to these questions, but it seems I will never know," she said. "It was a terrifying realisation that I will probably never know what happened on December 15th."
She described the funeral of her sister as a "media circus". She said her family deserves to know the truth about Celine's death.
Her voice cracking with emotion, Ms Ring quoted lyrics from the Take That song Rule the world; "All the stars are coming out tonight, they're lighting up the sky".
Reading a statement on behalf of Lillis, defence counsel Brendan Grehan said: “Celine Cawley was his partner in every sense of the word despite his behaviour . . . contrary to what was portrayed, she was neither a bully nor a tyrant.”
In the statement, Lillis said he was "extremely sorry and regretful" for what happened and had always loved his wife.
"He loved her very much and will love her for the rest of his life...she was a loving wife as well as a strong and talented businesswoman," Mr Grehan said.
"He is fearful of the consequences of his actions for her [his daughter] now and in the future."
Giving character references in court, Gerry Kennedy and Siobhan Cassidy, whom Lillis met more than 30 years ago while a student in UCD, spoke highly of him. They both chose him to be godfather of their first-born children and said he always was and continues to be an excellent godfather.
Mr Kennedy described Lillis as a "gentleman, kind, considerate, a very good listener....a very good friend to me". He said he hoped Lillis would be "given a chance to have a relationship with his daughter as she moves from child to adult".
Ms Cassidy said she had known Lillis for 34 years dating back to their days in UCD “where we both studied English Literature together”.
Ms Cassidy described Lillis as gentle and non-confrontational. “I found him to be a mild-mannered man, a gentleman, and very courteous and my opinion of him has never changed,” she told the court.
She said his daughter was always at the forefront of his mind before going on to say “I met himself and [his daughter] recently and the love between them is evident”.
Ms Cawley died in hospital of blunt-force trauma to the head. During the trial, the deputy State pathologist said that moderate force would have caused the three wounds to Ms Cawley’s head that resulted in blood loss and asphyxia. He said she might not have died if medical help had been summoned more quickly.
Lillis, who was having an affair with his masseuse, Jean Treacy, said he found an intruder attacking his wife on their patio. At his trial he admitted that there was no intruder.
Deferring sentencing until tomorrow morning, Mr Justice White said he would like to think about the matter and read the victim impact statements in full.