Eamonn Lillis is this evening beginning a jail term of just under 7 years for killing his wife Celine Cawley at their Dublin home.

The 52 year old TV ad producer gave little reaction other than to nod his head as the sentence was passed down.

He was cleared last week by a jury of his wife’s murder but was convicted of her manslaughter at Windgate Road, Howth on December 15th 2008.

The trial started with a 999 call from Eamonn Lillis telling emergency services an intruder had attacked his wife.

His subsequent efforts to resuscitate Celine Cawley were described by Mr. Justice Barry White today as the only decent act committed by the accused that morning.

The judge found his persistent lies to gardai about a burglary, and his attempts to cover up the killing, were an aggravating factor when considering a sentence.

It was only weeks after her death that Eamonn Lillis admitted to his teenage daughter and to his then lover Jean Treacy that he and Celine had had a violent row on their patio.

Today the deceased’s brother Chris painted a warm picture of the sister he’s lost.

“Celine was a dynamic kind, successful, fun-loving, caring person” he said.

“She had a beautiful energy and she lit up so many lives; the lives of family, friends, neighbours and colleagues”.

“Celine – we love you” he added.

Mr Justice White noted Eamonn Lillis has no previous convictions, but said he believed the accused’s expression of sorrow and remorse to be hollow and self serving

The judge jailed the father of one for 7 years – backdating the final month for time already served.