Joe O'Reilly had begun the process of claiming on the life insurance policy of his wife Rachel and had also applied to have his mortgage paid using a mortgage-protection policy in her name, The Irish Timeshas learned. Conor Lally, Crime Correspondent, reported.
The paperwork relating to the policies had been lodged with the insurance companies by O'Reilly and he had expected the policies to be honoured had he been acquitted of his wife's murder.
O'Reilly, who was convicted of murder last weekend and is now serving a life sentence, had obtained a death certificate for his wife within months of murdering her.
He used this to begin claiming the insurance policy, valued at just under €194,000. He also submitted the death certificate to have his €240,000 mortgage settled on the house near The Naul, Co Dublin, where he killed his wife. Gardaí only learned late last year of O'Reilly's efforts to realise the policies. However, the insurance companies refused to pay until the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled whether O'Reilly would face a murder charge. Once the murder charge was brought, the claims process was put on hold pending the outcome of the case.
The Irish Times understands that O'Reilly was at an advanced stage of claiming at least one of the policies. Informed sources said he believed he would be acquitted and would be paid the money. It is unclear if, or to whom, the policies will now be paid.
Ms O'Reilly (30) was killed at her home in The Naul, Co Dublin, on October 4th, 2004. The mother of two was found beaten to death in her bedroom after the alarm was raised when she failed to collect her children from school and creche.
Her husband was later charged with the murder and was sentence to life imprisonment last Saturday after a jury found him guilty of the murder charge. He had pleaded not guilty.
However, he had no alibi and telephone records and images from CCTV put him and his car at the scene of the killing at the time of the murder. The Central Criminal Court also heard evidence that he was having an affair and wanted to live with his mistress with his two young sons.