LEGAL PROCEEDINGS in which relatives of the late Celine Cawley are seeking orders disentitling her convicted killer and husband Eamon Lillis to any interest in her estate have been adjourned for three weeks.
Ms Cawley’s brother Christopher and sister Susanna have brought proceedings under the Succession Act 1965 for declarations that Lillis is effectively dead for the purposes of the Act.
It is also alleged Lillis is an unworthy person to succeed his wife.
The action is aimed at seeing Lillis lose his 50 per cent interest in two homes – the couple’s family home in Howth and another property, Tramway Court, Sutton.
It is also sought to deprive him of any benefit from a number of joint bank accounts and bonds held by the couple.
If the application is successful, Lillis’s interest would be transferred to the couple’s teenage daughter, who turns 18 later this month.
Lillis has opposed the proceedings and contends he is entitled to an interest in the assets.
Yesterday, the master of the High Court, Edmund Honohan SC, was told the matter could be adjourned to later this month to allow Lillis time to respond to the application.
Lillis, who is serving a sentence of just under seven years for the manslaughter of his wife had previously consented to his removal as administrator of Ms Cawley’s estate.
The court then made orders appointing Christopher and Susanna Cawley as administrators of her estate.
Lillis (53) was jailed earlier this year.
Following a 16-day trial, the jury found the State failed to prove that Lillis intended to murder Ms Cawley (46), a TV executive, on December 15th, 2008, at their home on Windgate Road, Howth.
The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter and a sentence of six years and 11 months was imposed by Mr Justice Barry White.
When sentencing Lillis, the judge said it was clear the jury had rejected his contention he had no responsibility for his wife’s death.