A mother of triplets has received a life sentence, with a minimum of 15 years' imprisonment, for the murder of her husband.
Lesley Gault (35) sobbed yesterday as Lord Justice Campbell sentenced her to life imprisonment for the murder of her husband, Paul, in May 2000.
Mr Gault (34) was beaten to death with a hockey stick in the bedroom of their home in Audley Avenue, in Lisburn, Belfast Crown Court heard.
Ms Gault's lover, Gordon Graham, of Ballygowan, is already serving a life sentence for the murder.
Lord Justice Campbell said he doubted whether Gault would have been involved in the killing of her husband had it not been for an affair she had with Graham "and their complete infatuation with one another".
He said it was clear that she had had a planning role in her husband's murder even if she had not carried it out.
Gault had left the scene of the killing to go to the shops just before it was carried out.
"It is difficult to comprehend how someone could be so callous," said the judge.
As Gault awaited sentencing, a letter was read out by her defence barrister, Mr John McCrudden QC, from her local Methodist minister. He said the letter was unsolicited and showed that she was a person who experienced deep remorse at what had happened to her husband.
He confirmed Gault intended to appeal her murder conviction, and described her as a woman who had been tried through the press for adultery.
"She is alone. She is friendless. She is without her children and she faces a long period of imprisonment."
Lord Justice Campbell acknowledged that the prison sentence would cause Gault real anguish as she was going to be separated from her three children in their formative years.
Relatives of Gault's murdered husband were pleased with the sentence. Her husband's father, Mr Paddy Gault, said: "Justice has been done. It has been very, very difficult. We just want to get on with our lives." - (PA)