Eamon Lillis set for release despite large media presence

Convicted wife killer Eamon Lillis will be released from prison this morning - no matter how many journalists are outside.

Lillis refused to leave Wheatfield jail in West Dublin yesterday because of the large number of reporters waiting for him.

The Irish Prison Service does not usually release prisoners at the weekend.

That is why it was decided to let 57-year-old Eamon Lillis go a day early, at 9am on Friday.

However that privilege was revoked when Lillis would not sign his paperwork.

It has been suggested that the large media presence outside the jail made him reluctant to leave.

It has been reported that he will now have to be freed some time before 10am this morning.

He is expected to head straight to Dublin Airport, as he has contacts in both the UK and France.

Eamon Lillis was jailed for six years and 11 months in February 2010 over the death of his wife Celine Cawley - his good behaviour while in prison secured him a 25% reduction of his sentence.