Lillis jury sent home for second evening

The jury in the Eamonn Lillis murder trial at the Central Criminal Court was sent home for a second evening today after deliberating all day.

The six women and six men listened to a recording of Mr Lillis giving his evidence up until the point where he said he dialled 999. They also listened to the recording of that call.

The 52-year-old TV advert producer, originally from Terenure in Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 46-year-old wife Celine Cawley, while their teenaged daughter was at school.

He first said he found an intruder attacking her on the morning of December 15, 2008 at their home, Rowan Hill, Windgate Road, Howth. He has since admitted that there was no intruder.

Mr Justice Barry White told the jurors they’d had a long day and sent them home shortly after 5.30pm, following five and a half hours of deliberations that began on Wednesday afternoon.

He said he would give them further directions in relation to their verdict tomorrow morning, at which stage they could resume their deliberations.