O'Reilly to learn appeal decision on Friday

Convicted murderer Joe O'Reilly will learn on Friday if his appeal against his conviction for the murder of his wife Rachel at their home in The Naul, Co Dublin has been successful.

On Friday at the Four Courts, the three-judge Court of Criminal Appeal will deliver judgment on the appeal by the 36-year-old father of two against his conviction in July 2007.

After hearing submissions for O'Reilly and the DPP last December the court, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, presiding at the CCA and sitting with Mr Justice Roderick Murphy and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, reserved their judgment.

The trial heard Rachel O'Reilly's body was found in the bedroom of the couple's home by her mother, Rose Callaly, on the morning of October 4, 2004. She was killed as a result of receiving several blows to the head from a blunt instrument.

O'Reilly, who denies murdering his wife, attended his appeal in a packed court number six in the Four Courts before Christmas.

He claims the trial before the Central Criminal Court was unsatisfactory and his conviction is unsafe.

O'Reilly, Lambay View, Baldarragh, The Naul, was convicted unanimously by a jury of the murder of his 30-year-old wife at their home on October 4, 2004. He was jailed for life by Mr Justice Barry White.