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The Suspect: The Story of Rachel O'Reilly's Murder |
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In slow-motion time the Gardai made an official arrest, and Joe O'Reilly's trial rolled around in the summer of 2007. Without a confession, murder weapon or witness, the prosecution admitted that their case was circumstantial. That case proved convincing to the jury and O'Reilly was found guilty. His dirty, lying ass was hauled off the jail. These details are- like the plot points of the Long Island Lolita affair, to Americans- familiar to all Irish people with a pulse. For anyone who missed a day's headlines, Irish Mail on Sunday journalist Jenny Friel collected the developments, interviews and back-story into a book called The Suspect: The Story of Rachel O'Reilly's Murder. The strongest point of 2007's The Suspect are the accounts of Friel's interviews with Joe O'Reilly. She interviewed him on a number of occasions and maintained phone contact as the nation's mood turned. Though she relates with retrospective unease a number of questionably threatening observations that O'Reilly made, he gave a convincing display of his innocence. "I just don't know [if he did it]. I really hope not; he seems like a really nice guy." (pg. 79) These first-person accounts, and the insight of how well the couple had been suited when they first met, were the real surprise of the book. |
The Irish tabloids continue, even years later, to sell papers with front-page promises of new twists and updates on the Rachel O'Reilly murder. |
Unfortunately- as is the nature of a real-life police investigation and subsequent court case- repetition ruled. There were several different presentations of the same conversation, event or detail from different parties. These were notable the first time, but thereafter tempted the eyes to skim ahead to a passage that would move the narrative forward. Pages turning fast is the sign of a good book, unless that speed is increasing to the rate of the Golden Pages being thumbed. Friel's material may have been accurate, but it did not make a riveting read.
Critical Mick says: Though redeemed by details of the key evidence placing O'Reilly near his home in The Naul when he claimed to have been working in Dublin, The Suspect: The Story of Rachel O'Reilly's Murder contains little that is new to readers who followed the papers. It certainly does not generate any sympathy for Joe O'Reilly. As Penthouse Magazine wrote of the Joey Buttafuoco affair, Joe O'Reilly's is ultimately a story with no redeeming social value. He was sleeping regularly with another woman. His marriage was over. Why didn't he just his wife her go? Divorce is common enough in modern Ireland. Stupid punk.
I calls em like I sneeze em.
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This Page Was Last Updated On 16 November, 2008.
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