New law aims to stop spouse killers cashing in on deaths

SPOUSE killers will no longer be able to profit from the death of their husband or wife under a new Bill that looks set to become law.

The issue came to prominence in the wake of Eamon Lillis’s successful inheritance of half of his wife Celine Cawley’s estate, despite being convicted of her manslaughter. The couple owned a plush home in Howth, Co. Dublin.

The Cabinet yesterday discussed a Private Member’s Bill tabled by Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan, and agreed not to oppose it at second stage tomorrow. But ministers agreed they would bring amendments to the legislation at a later stage.

The Bill meets a Law Reform Commission recommendation that those who kill their spouses should not benefit from jointly owned property in the absence of the other spouse or partner.

The Bill will state that in cases of murder, attempted murder and manslaughter, a perpetrator should not receive the victim’s share of a marital home or joint tenancy, dating from the commission of the offence. A court would have the power to deny any part of ownership on conviction for murder or manslaughter, and determine the value of any residual entitlement in a case of attempted murder.

Mr O’Callaghan said yesterday that new Garda statistics this week meant there were worrying trends emerging ‘whereby violent crime is becoming a normal feature of society’.

‘In order to combat this trend, the Government needs to establish a strategy in collaboration with An Garda Síochána – one that focuses on early intervention, crime prevention and robust law enforcement,’ he said. ‘Gardaí will also require the resources for this strategy to be properly realised. The Confidence and Supply arrangement committed to increasing... the Garda to 15,000 but this is only one element of delivering the necessary resources.’