Mistress cast into the national spotlight
Silence descended on the packed courtroom as the beauty therapist was called to the witness box in anticipation of hearing from the young woman who began an affair with the TV advertising director in the weeks before his wife, Celine Cawley, was killed at their family home in Howth in December 2008.
For over two hours yesterday before the pretty brunette began giving evidence at the trial of her former lover, members of the public had started arriving in Court 19 to ensure they got a ringside seat for what promised to be raw, tense drama.
Photographers and TV cameramen had also gathered from early morning outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street in greater numbers than normal in anticipation of Ms Treacy’s appearance.
Human nature being what it is ensured that everyone’s curiosity could only be satisfied by catching a glimpse of the 32-year-old mistress who had embarked on a sexual relationship with a married man 20 years her senior. But only those who made it into court know what Ms Treacy looks like as gardaí controversially squirrelled the witness in and out of the new building through an underground passage to avoid the glare of the watching media and public.
The layout of the new courtrooms in the futuristic-style complex also ensures witnesses no longer have to pass directly in front of accused parties separated by just a few inches in order to give evidence. Her route to the witness stand took her behind Lillis, whose gaze rarely left the sheaf of notes on the table in front of him, although he occasionally fidgeted with lens on his glasses.
No direct eye contact was made between the former lovers, although Ms Treacy – who bears more than a passing resemblance to Leigh Arnold, the well-known actress from RTÉ’s drama series The Clinic – allowed herself a brief glance in the accused’s direction during a short lull in the proceedings.
Although she appeared nervous while sitting at the back of the courtroom flanked by several gardaí while waiting for her name to be called, Ms Treacy delivered a composed performance that betrayed no sense of embarrassment at finding her private life exposed to the full glare of the national media.
Although reference had been made earlier in the course of the trial that Ms Treacy was engaged at the time she began a sexual relationship with Mr Lillis and was due to get married last June, no wedding or engagement rings were visible on her carefully manicured hands. No mention was made of her then boyfriend, Keith, or whether they are still in a relationship.
Dressed in a full-length black coat, white blouse and dark trousers, she delivered a calm recollection of events that led up to the beginning of the affair when Lillis and his wife were regular clients at the Howth Haven beauty clinic where she worked.
The relationship was strictly on a professional-client basis for the best part of two years until late 2008 when their mutual interest in dogs led her to remark that she would love to see photos of Lillis’ pets. The accused brought her out to his car, where he showed her pictures of his dogs on his iPod.
“The rapport between us was slightly different that day,” recalled Ms Treacy, who said she had also noticed on that occasion that he had very nice hands.
The relationship blossomed to the point that they would try and meet up on a daily basis.
Ms Treacy said Lillis and his wife looked very good together, although she learnt at a later stage that he had told Ms Cawley one morning that he was unhappy with their 17-year-old marriage.
Asked if she had wanted the marriage to end, the young woman replied: “No, I didn’t. Never.” However, she admitted developing feelings for the businessman.
But had she fallen in love, wondered prosecution barrister Mary Ellen Ring SC. “At the time I thought I had but now I realise that it was more an infatuation than anything. It came and went,” said Ms Treacy unblinkingly. She did not believe Ms Cawley knew about their secret trysts.
On the morning Ms Cawley died, she had sent Lillis a text asking him to bring his Mercedes ML jeep for their planned meeting. “Not from a seedy, sordid point of view,” she elaborated, explaining that she was more comfortable sitting in its front seat, as it had tinted windows “so you’re not looking over your shoulder all the time”.
An even deeper hush descended on the packed courtroom as Ms Cawley outlined the explanation which Lillis insisted on giving her about what happened on that fateful day that his wife died – a day he subsequently described in a text as “a horrifying day – a day from hell.”
The victim’s family, including her elderly father, Jim, sat with grim-faced expressions and heads bowed as the court heard of a major row between Lillis and his wife after he had forgotten to take the rubbish out.
Ms Treacy was informed by Lillis that Celine had gone mad. Both had said disgusting things to each other and she had branded him a terrible and useless husband.
He had tried to prevent her biting his finger during a scuffle by pushing the heel of his hand against her forehead when “all of a sudden a pool of blood appeared under her head” which he presumed had been caused by a brick.
Ms Treacy indicated how she had then tried to discourage further contact from Lillis.
When he sent her a package last May tied with a white ribbon and wrapping paper bearing the lyrics of Beyonce’s hit “Idol” which contained a Tiffany pendant with diamonds, she brought the gift immediately to gardaí.
After 90 minutes of evidence and cross-examination, Ms Treacy was advised that there were no further questions and she resumed her seat amid a large group of gardaí.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
