An application by Joe O’Reilly, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife, for legal aid in order to take a miscarriage of justice case, was granted in the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday.
Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman granted the application after the court heard there was no objection from Chief State solicitor Tom Browne.
O’Reilly was not present in court.
He is serving life for killing his wife, Rachel O’Reilly, at their home in the Naul, Co Dublin, in October 2004.
In 2009 he lost an appeal against his conviction but he maintains his innocence.
He is now applying to have his case declared a miscarriage of justice and yesterday, as part of the application, he was granted free legal aid.
