THE HUSBAND of Dublin woman Celine Cawley, who was found dead at her home last week, is to appear before Cloverhill District Court today after being charged with her murder. Éamon Lillis (51), Rowan Hill, Windgate Road, in Howth, was remanded in custody following an appearance at Dublin District Court yesterday morning.
Mr Lillis was arrested on Saturday morning under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and detained by gardaí in Clontarf as part of their inquiry into the death of Ms Cawley (46) at her home last Monday.
After 24 hours detention and questioning, the DPP directed that Mr Lillis be charged with the murder of his wife.
Yesterday's hearing lasted less than a minute yesterday morning before Judge John Coughlan in Dublin District Court 44. Having been held overnight in the Bridewell, next door to the court, Mr Lillis arrived in the court by underground tunnel before 10.30am.
Det Sgt Gary Kelly told the court that Mr Lillis was arrested at 6.24am on Saturday and was brought to Clontarf Garda station. He was charged by Det Dave Cherry with his wife's murder at 7.15am on Sunday.
He was then handed a true copy of the charge. According to Det Sgt Kelly, Mr Lillis answered "nothing to say" when charged.
There was no objection from Dara Robinson, solicitor for Mr Lillis, and no other application. Judge Coughlan remanded Mr Lillis to Cloverhill prison to appear in court this morning.
Mr Lillis, who looked drawn and tired, was dressed in a grey-sleeved hooded top and white T-shirt, jeans and white runners and was carrying a book. He did not speak during the hearing.
Ms Cawley died from head injuries sustained in an attack at her home on Monday of last week.
When gardaí arrived at the house on Windgate Road just after 10am, they found her lying in her night attire on the back patio of her home on Windgate Road with serious injuries.
She was pronounced dead a short time later in Beaumont Hospital. A postmortem indicated she had died of head injuries consistent with being hit a number of times with a heavy object.
The couple have a 16-year-old daughter.
Ms Cawley was the founder and managing director of Toytown Films, a successful independent television company producing advertisements for major global brands since 1990.
