Trial timeline: 21 days of evidence and legal debate

Day 1, June 25: Jury of nine men and three women sworn in. O’Reilly cries as letter he placed in Rachel’s coffin is read out in court.

Day 2, June 26: Rachel’s mother Rose Callaly breaks down as she describes finding her daughter’s body covered in blood.

Day 3, June 27: Family friend Fiona Slevin says O’Reilly questioned why gardaí were looking for the murder weapon in fields when it was in water.

Michelle Slattery claims O’Reilly’s eyes looked as if he had been crying when he returned to his office around midday on the day of Rachel’s murder.

Day 4, June 28: Trial almost collapses after parts of book of evidence inadvertently left in jury room.

Forensic scientist Dr Diane Daly says Rachel violently beaten for sustained period while on ground.

Day 5, June 29: O’Reilly’s friend John Austin claims the O’Reillys’ marriage was in trouble. Rachel’s birth mother Teresa Lowe describes the “on- off” relationship with the daughter she gave up for adoption at birth.

Day 6, July 2: State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy says Rachel died as a result of head injuries caused by four to nine heavy blows. She could have been unconscious for several hours.

Day 7, July 3: Legal argument in absence of the jury.

Day 8, July 4: Legal argument on CCTV evidence.

Day 9, July 5: Legal argument on phone records.

Day 10, July 6: Summing up of arguments over admissibility of evidence.

Day 11, July 9: Mobile phone records place O’Reilly’s phone near murder scene on morning of Rachel’s death. It emerges that O’Reilly admitted affair with Nikki Pelley to gardaí on evening of murder.

Day 12, July 10: Evidence tells of 18 calls and texts between O’Reilly and Nikki Pelley on day of murder.

Day 13, July 11: Emails sent by O’Reilly to his sister four months before Rachel’s murder reveals his hatred of his wife. Rachel twice described as a “c**t” by O’Reilly in emails.

Day 14, July 12: Nikki Pelley says O’Reilly told her to tell gardaí their relationship was not serious. O’Reilly called Pelley his “bride to be” in a text message six weeks after his wife was killed.

Day 15, July 13: Judge warns jury to ignore media coverage of trial.

Day 16, July 16: Garda witness says car believed to be O’Reilly’s is caught on CCTV near murder scene at time O’Reilly claims he was in Broadstone, consistent with evidence of location of O’Reilly’s mobile phone.

Day 17, July 17: Forensic imaging expert says analysis of CCTV footage lends “moderate support” to claims it is O’Reilly’s car.

Day 18, July 18: O’Reilly’s key alibi Derek Quearney admits he might be wrong about the times he claimed he was with O’Reilly on the morning of the murder and admits he covered for O’Reilly during his affair with Nikki Pelley.

Day 19, July 19: Closing submissions to the jury as DPP says O’Reilly was the only person with a motive. O’Reilly’s barrister claims case against him is built on a large amount of suspicion.

Day 20, July 20: Senior garda seeks to have O’Reilly’s bail revoked over fears he would flee.

Jury sent to hotel after failing to reach verdict after three hours of deliberation.

Day 21, July 21: O’Reilly found guilty of murder and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. Jury returns unanimous guilty verdict after deliberations lasting more than nine-and-a-half hours.

Rose Callaly declares that “justice has been done.”