Tragedy laid bare in court room drama

ONCE united as family the divide between them was now all to evident.

As the female court register confirmed the jury’s majority manslaughter verdict Celine Cawley’s relatives, including her elderly father James, sister Susanna and brother Chris were silent, some sobbed and shook their heads. Just yards away Cawley’s former husband’s two sisters looked over anxiously from their bench through a crowded court room, at Eamonn Lillis sitting in the dock.

Lillis only slightly pursed his lips at the verdict that ended the four day trail and near three days of deliberations.