Family of Rachel O'Reilly welcomes sentence

Joe O'Reilly yesterday started the first day of a life sentence for the murder of his wife, Rachel, at their home in north Dublin in October 2004.

Amid emotional scenes in the Central Criminal Court on Saturday evening, O'Reilly (35), of Lambay View, Baldarragh, Naul, Co Dublin, was given a mandatory life sentence by trial judge Mr Justice Barry White who also refused him leave to appeal.

O'Reilly had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his wife.

There were shouts of joy from the family and friends of Rachel O'Reilly as the verdict was announced.

A victim impact statement, delivered after the verdict, by Rachel O'Reilly's mother, Rose Callaly, left many in the courtroom, including some Garda officers and journalists, in tears.

A crowd that had gathered outside the Four Courts complex shouted abuse as O'Reilly was driven away in a prison service van.

After deliberations lasting nine hours and six minutes the jury returned a unanimous verdict that O'Reilly had murdered his wife.

Although the judge had told the jury after the lunch break that he would accept a majority verdict, when the foreman stood up at 6.50pm he said the verdict had been agreed by all 11 members.

Mr Justice White then asked O'Reilly to stand and told him: "Mr O'Reilly, you have been found guilty by this jury. The sentence prescribed for murder is one of imprisonment for life and I am now imposing that sentence on you, thank you."

O'Reilly showed no emotion as the sentence was passed. However, there were whoops of joy from the public gallery as the Callaly family and friends of Rachel O'Reilly cried and hugged each other.

Afterwards the Callaly family walked hand-in-hand along the roadway leading to the gates of the Four Courts complex where Mrs Callaly said that she was very happy and that Rachel had got justice.

However Joe O'Reilly's mother, Ann O'Reilly, continued to maintain that her son was innocent.

Asked by journalists outside the court whether she thought he had killed his wife, she said: "I don't think he did it, I actually know he didn't do it".

Mr Justice White said the case had attracted more publicity than any other trial he could remember in his 40 years' experience as a judge and barrister.

He exempted the jury from any further jury service for the rest of their lives.

The judge said that while he was aware of the "emotionally charged atmosphere" in the court, he would hear Mrs Callaly's victim impact statement.

She said Rachel O'Reilly had been subject to "the most horrific, violent and barbaric attack that no human being should ever have to go through".

"Even though justice has been done, our grief and distress will never diminish. Each one of us has been traumatised by feelings of helplessness, shock, grief and the horrific reality is that we can do nothing to bring her back. That is the hardest part of our pain," she said.

Mrs Callaly said that not only did Rachel leave without saying goodbye, she also left her beloved sons, Luke and Adam, confused, scared and angry.

"We feel heartbroken as the biggest damage will surely be left at their door as they live their lives without the guidance and counselling of their best friend," she said.

She said that for the family sleepless nights, nightmares and panic attacks had become the norm.

"We often wake traumatised with fear by the images of terror, violence and brutality and we wonder if we will ever return to some sense of a normal life".

Mrs Callaly said that as a parent it was devastating to lose a child but under these circumstances, at times it was unbearable.

"Rachel, if I could have given my life for you that awful day, I would have," she said.

As she left the witness box, Mrs Callaly was embraced by one of the main gardaí in the investigation, Det Sgt Patrick Marry.

Following the conclusion of the case, it can also be reported, that on Friday the prosecution had asked the judge to revoke Joe O'Reilly's bail and to keep him in custody until the jury had finished their deliberations.

Supt Joseph Kelly gave evidence that O'Reilly might flee the country before the jury had reached its verdict.