Howth murder accused to seek bail in High Court

EAMONN LILLIS, who is charged with the murder of his wife Celine Cawley, at their home in Howth, Co Dublin, will ask the High…

EAMONN LILLIS, who is charged with the murder of his wife Celine Cawley, at their home in Howth, Co Dublin, will ask the High Court next Tuesday to release him on bail.

Mr Lillis (51), Rowan Hill, Windgate Road, Howth, was charged on Sunday with the murder of Ms Cawley (46) at her home on Monday, December 15th.

Dara Robinson, a solicitor with Garrett Sheehan and Partners, told Mr Justice Peter Charleton in the High Court yesterday that Mr Lillis had appeared at Cloverhill District Court earlier yesterday and had been remanded in custody for a fortnight.

He said Mr Lillis had to give the Director of Public Prosecutions two clear working days' notice of his intention to apply for bail.

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Since today and next Monday were the only two working days over the holiday period, Mr Robinson added, his application would have to be left until Tuesday December 30th.

Mr Lillis was arrested on Saturday morning under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and detained by gardaí in Clontarf.

Mr Justice Charleton yesterday granted Mr Lillis leave to serve the State with short notice of his bail application.

He made an order for his production before the High Court sitting at Cloverhill courthouse on Tuesday.

Mr Lillis had appeared earlier yesterday at the District Court in the precincts of Cloverhill remand prison.

After 24 hours' detention and questioning, the DPP directed that Mr Lillis be charged with murder of Ms Cawley.

Mr Lillis was remanded in custody following a brief appearance at Dublin District Court on Monday and the hearing at Cloverhill yesterday lasted for less than one minute.

Det Sgt Gary Kelly of Howth Garda station asked Judge Conal Gibbons that Mr Lillis be remanded in custody for two weeks.

Mr Robinson said his client would consent to the further remand until January 6th. However, at the High Court, notice was given that his lawyers would apply for him to be released on bail before January 6th.

Mr Lillis did not attend the brief ex parte proceedings at the High Court.