O’Reilly murder file not sent to DPP, inquest told

A FILE on the murder of a mother-of-two beaten to death at her home in north Co Dublin almost a year ago has not yet been submitted to the DPP, an inquest has heard.

The inquest into the death of 30-year-old Rachel O’Reilly was adjourned yesterday for a further six months as the investigation into her murder continues.

Ms O’Reilly was discovered with fatal head injuries at the home she shared with her husband Joe and two young sons near The Naul, Co Dublin.

When the inquest opened last March, State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy said Ms O’Reilly died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Her parents, Jim and Rose Callely, attended the first hearing in March and heard how she died after being struck six times resulting in severe head injuries, including a fractured skull and brain damage.

Solicitor Peter Mullins, representing the dead woman’s husband Joe O’Reilly, told yesterday’s adjourned inquest that his client had no objection to the adjournment.

Mr O’Reilly, who was arrested and questioned in connection with the murder, did not attend yesterday’s short hearing before Dublin County Coroner’s Court in Tallaght.

Superintendent Tom Gallagher of Balbriggan Garda Station, applying for the adjournment, told the hearing: “A file hasn’t been submitted yet.”

Four people have been arrested by detectives investigating the murder, three of them on suspicion of withholding information. The fourth was questioned directly about the murder.

Two men, aged 44 and 35, and a 36-year-old woman were detained and questioned on suspicion they withheld information.

Ms O’Reilly died during the morning of October 4 last year, some time after returning home from dropping her sons off at Montessori and school. It is believed her killer was waiting for her as she arrived home.

In March, the body was exhumed after witnesses reported seeing a letter being placed in the coffin at the funeral. A document was recovered.