Content of text messages revealed

Text messages from Joe O'Reilly found on Nikki Pelley's phone were also read out in court.

Text messages from Joe O'Reilly found on Nikki Pelley's phone were also read out in court.

Sgt Michael Gubbins told prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn that when he examined the contents of a phone belonging to Ms Pelley, he came across a number of text messages from Mr O'Reilly dating back to July 16th, 2004.

The first text message, sent at 10.02pm on July 16th, 2004, read: "Hey, I will only be your husband. I know my place."

The following day, another text message at 8.29am said: "I can't wait to see you."

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On July 27th at 11.53pm a third text said: "Sweet dreams to you too love, I can't even begin to tell you how much I miss and love you. You're everything to me. Xxx."

A text from Joe O'Reilly on August 31st at 12.37pm refers to his son's first day at school: "Just texting you. Our boy has had his first school day. Had fun but will have homework tomorrow. Love you."

Another text, from September 5th at 10.33pm, said: "Ditto my beautiful bride-to-be. Xxx"

On September 30th, a text at 10.09pm from Mr O'Reilly read: "All your willies tucked up in bed with the lights off. Sweet dreams. Xxx."

A final text, from October 1st, 2004, read: "All the boys down on the beach. Only thing missing is you. Xxx."

Det Garda Niall O'Donnell said that two days after the killing, he was on duty in Navan Garda station when two men were arrested after being spotted in a stolen red maroon Volkswagen estate car.

He said the car had been stolen in Northern Ireland by two Co Louth men, and because a similar car had been spotted in The Naul on the day of the murder they were questioned in relation to it.

Det Garda O'Donnell said both men were subsequently ruled out.

Under cross-examination by the defence, he said that by the time gardaí arrested the men, two weeks had passed since the car was fitted with false number plates.

Asked whether there had been a third man involved in the theft, he said there had been. He agreed there had been two sightings of a red maroon estate in the vicinity of the O'Reilly home on the morning of the murder.

Asked was he aware that one of the men who had reported the sighting told gardaí "he'd seen a red car in the driveway of the O'Reilly home", he replied: "I'm not aware of that."

Asked was he aware that a red car had been seen around the Murphy's Quarry area "in or about" midday, he said: "Yes."