Accused placed near home on morning of murder

A CAR matching the description of murder accused Joe O’Reilly’s Fiat Marea was captured by CCTV footage near the O’Reilly home on the morning of the murder of his wife Rachel, a jury in the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday.

On the 16th day of the trial of O’Reilly, aged 35, of Lambay View, Baldarragh, Naul, Co Dublin — who has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife on October 4, 2004 — Det Gda Sean Fitzpatrick told prosecuting counsel Dominic McGinn BL that he spent “weeks” viewing 119 separate pieces of CCTV footage from around the city and north Co Dublin.

He said he did this to see whether O’Reilly or a car matching the description of his navy Fiat Marea estate could be seen at various places during the day of the murder.