A Belfast murder trial heard yesterday that a Fermanagh housewife and her supposed lover spent several hours drinking in a local hotel with her husband earlier on the night he was allegedly bludgeoned to death in his own bed.
A number of witnesses told the Crown Court of seeing the three, with another man, Mr P.J. McPadden, in the Fort Lodge Hotel, Enniskillen, on the evening of August 12th, 2000.
One witness said Ms Julie McGinley seemed to be "normal enough" and her husband, Mr Gerry McGinley, was "in good enough spirits".
Ms McGinley (31), Windmill Drive, Enniskillen, and Mr Michael Monaghan (44), Ann Street, Enniskillen, both deny the murder of Mr McGinley on August 13th, 2000.
Also giving evidence yesterday was a neighbour of the McGinleys who baby-sat for them on the night of August 12th.
Ms Heather Edwards told the jury she did not see Mr McGinley alive again after the couple left the house about 11 p.m. Mr McGinley was wearing a blue shirt with long sleeves.
At about 2.30 a.m. she heard the car, then Ms McGinley came into the house alone. She said Mr McGinley was "out the back".
As Ms Edwards got into the car to be driven home, she saw a man wearing a white T-shirt with short sleeves come round the house and go in the front door.
Ms Edwards described returning with her sister the next morning and seeing Ms McGinley and the children outside.
She also saw Mr Monaghan and Mr McPadden at the back of the house beside Mr Monaghan's white van.
The witness said on that occasion Ms McGinley "seemed eager to get rid of us" and they left after about five minutes.
She knew Mr Monaghan was involved in a furniture business with the McGinleys and had seen him at the house before.
The witness told Mr Justice Kerr that about a week later she had mentioned the man in the white T-shirt to Ms McGinley.
"She said I was very observant and that I should be looking for a solicitor."
During cross-examination by Mr James Gallagher QC, for Mr Monaghan, Ms Edwards said that on one occasion Mr McGinley had spoken to her about a local farmer named Mr Willie Edwards (no relation), and said he was going to go into Garvary Church and "pull him out of the pew".
Questioned by Mr Justice Kerr, Ms Edwards said she had not been able to see if Mr McGinley had been wearing anything underneath the blue shirt when he left the house.
Evidence in the trial, which is expected to last two months, continues this morning .