Two notorious cases influence term

THE sentence handed down for the killing of Celine Cawley was influenced by two notorious cases: Wayne O’Donoghue and Linda Mulhall.

In handing down the six years and 11 months sentence to Eamonn Lillis, Mr Justice Barry White made extensive reference to whether or not the lies and cover-up after Ms Cawley’s death should be viewed as an aggravating factor.

It took almost 20 minutes from the time Mr Justice White asked Lillis to stand up, to the delivery of the final sentence, beginning with an outline of the jury’s decision in finding the 52-year-old guilty of manslaughter, and how they had not been satisfied of the necessary intent to either kill or cause serious injury to his wife.