EAMONN LILLIS, the 52-year-old TV advertising director convicted last Friday of the manslaughter of his wife, Celine Cawley, was remanded in custody yesterday after his sentencing hearing was adjourned to this morning.
At a sometimes emotional hearing, the court was told that two victim impact statements had been presented, one by the 17-year-old daughter of Celine Cawley and Eamonn Lillis and the second by Ms Cawley’s sister, Susanna. Only the second was read to the court. In it, she made repeated references to Eamonn Lillis, though only once mentioning him by name. She referred to the “treacherous lies”, which she said were “overwhelming”.
“The worst had to be the one Eamonn told us of the intruder and of Celine’s last moments, to my wonderful, honourable 80-year-old dad, when he alleged she pulled her fingers down his face. Whatever about the rest of us, Dad deserves to know the truth about the advantage that was taken of his total loyalty. The lack of remorse is also hard to credit despite 13 months of opportunity to at least apologise to [the 17-year-old daughter of Lillis’s and Celine Cawley] and my father. But no such apology has been forthcoming.”
In the statement, read by State prosecutor Mary Ellen Ring, Susanna Cawley also referred to the “tightrope” the family have been obliged to walk in their efforts to secure the financial and residential future for [the daughter].
“We are all here for her but we were and still are absolutely powerless. Every avenue we have tried to go down, we find that we have no legal entitlement.”
Speaking on behalf of Lillis, defence counsel Brendan Grehan said his client was “extremely sorry and regretful” for what had happened and for the lies he told, in particular to Ms Cawley’s family “who took him in afterwards”. He still spoke of his wife in the present tense: “He loves her very much and will love her for the rest of his life. Contrary to reports, she was neither a bully nor a tyrant.” Lillis is also fearful of the consequences of his actions for his daughter now and in the future, said counsel.
Giving character references on behalf of Lillis, advertising copy-writer Gerry Kennedy, and Siobhan Cassidy, a teacher, whom Lillis met more than 30 years ago while a student in UCD, each said they had chosen him to be godfather to their first-born children and that he was an excellent godfather.
Deferring sentencing, Mr Justice Barry White said he wanted to think about the matter and read the victim impact statements.