'Guilty' . . . and then an electrifying whoop, almost terrifying in intensity
Delighted members of the Callaly family leave the court after the verdict ON Saturday evening.
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"JUSTICE, justice." The sobs of gratitude and relief echoed around the court.
When it finally came, the knock on the door leading to the jury room had been so soft that only the court clerk heard it over the din of the courtroom.
It was 6.40pm and everyone had long since given up hope of a verdict that day.
Unforeseen, crowds of people had drifted willy nilly into courtroom Two throughout the course of the evening. The crush had become unbearable.
But suddenly we felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere - and with the arrival of six gardai from the Bridewell - knew that something was about to occur.
"Don't be worrying," whispered Ann Callaly to her mother, Rose with a reassuring squeeze of her arm.
In all the commotion, Thomas Lowe, Rachel O'Reilly's half-brother, was having difficulty reaching his mother, Teresa. "Are you all right, son?" she anxiously asked him.
Mr Justice Barry White took his seat and then the jury filed in as a siren wailed in the background. Hair stood on the back of the onlookers' necks as an air of paralysing tension spread round the courtroom. The court clerk asked the foreman to answer 'yes' or 'no' if they had reached a verdict.
"Yes, we have," he replied. And then the six-letter word came. 'Guilty.'
A split second of silence hung in the air.
And then there was an electrifying whoop, almost terrifying in its intensity.
Rachel's sister Ann and brothers Anthony, Declan and Paul leapt to their feet, punching the air. Rose and Jim Callaly clutched one another in relief and collapsed in emotion towards one another.
Ear-shattering cheers and then convulsive sobs broke out in pockets around the room.
"Thank you God for justice," Rachel's birth mother, Teresa cried over and over. "She wouldn't let her boys down."
Rachel. Rachel. The name could be heard uttered in every corner of the chamber, like a prayer of thanksgiving and deliverance.
As we looked over at the detectives, we saw them openly shedding tears.
Standing in the dock, Joe O'Reilly was stony-faced. He had shown no reaction when the verdict was read but underlying his usual mask, we seemed to read surprise.
At the back of the courtroom, his mother and sister Ann tightly held hands but never shed a tear. Derek craned his neck to see his brother.
As a token of his appreciation of the jury, the judge proposed to exempt them from any further jury service for the rest of their lives.Then, briskly, he asked both legal teams if there was any reason why he shouldn't proceed to sentencing.
Neither had any objection. Patrick Gageby, for the defence, sounded flat.
Joe O'Reilly was instructed to stand and unblinkingly, received the mandatory life sentence, his hands clasped neatly in front of him.
When it was over, he nodded stiffly.
And then Rose Callaly was called to the witness box to read out her Victim Impact Statement. With heart-wrenching dignity, this loving mother - who was so cruelly and deliberately sent by Joe to discover the body of her cherished daughter that day - told the court of their loss. She said Rachel's sons, Luke and Adam, had been scared and angry since their mother's death.
"Rachel, if I could have given my life for you that awful day, I would have."
"There are days when we feel overwhelmed with grief. Sleepless nights, nightmares and panic attacks have become the norm for us, we often wake traumatised with fear by the images of terror, violence and brutality.
"We lost Rachel at the young age of 30 and are devastated, knowing we will never be able to share with her the enjoyment of all the milestones she looked forward to. As a parent it is devastating to lose a child, but under these circumstances at times it is unbearable.
"Rachel, if I could have given my life for you that awful day, I would have. Thank you for the short lifetime which should have been so much longer and so full of so many more happy memories. We miss you and love you so much, and not a day passes without you being remembered so lovingly. We hope you can now rest in peace, my darling.
"Your loving mum and dad, brothers, sister and sisters-in-law Declan and Denise, Paul and Denise, Ann and Anthony and your two sons, Luke and Adam."
Joe O'Reilly's mother and sister hissed: "Last, last," as Mrs Callaly mentioned the names of the two boys.
Outside in the Round Hall, Anthony Callaly covered his face with his jacket and cried in sheer relief. The family paid heartfelt thanks to everyone who had supported them and particularly the gardai for their work. The O'Reillys said their last goodbyes, with hugs, handshakes and a final whispered few words before Joe was led to the prison van that had been parked expectantly outside in the courtyard all day.
And as the Callalys went outside the Four Courts with hands held triumphantly aloft for the cameras, the Lowes stood to watch the sight of Rachel's murderer being sent off to Mountjoy amid jeers and heckles of "scumbag," "murderer."
It was justice and it was sweet.
