Killer Joe O’Reilly to feature in new documentary about infamous murder of wife Rachel Callaly

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A new documentary is being made about the infamous murder of Rachel Callaly, is has emerged.

Viacom Studios in the UK are making a two-part true crime documentary that will explore the infamous killing of the mum-of-two at the hands of her evil husband Joe O’Reilly.

And speaking to The Star , Rachel’s mother Rose confirmed her involvement in the new “in-depth” programme, which is set to be released on Channel 5 later this year.

“We didn’t mind doing it. But I just realised after doing it that that’ll be the end for us.

“I don’t think we’ll do another documentary after this and it’s the first time I’ve ever felt like this. But it was a bit heavy going,” she said.

Documentary makers are becoming increasingly interested in infamous Irish cases, following the success of two high-budget films about the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork.



Rachel Callaly

And Rose, who cannot believe almost 17 years has passed since her daughter’s murder, says she’s glad the public still have an interest in the case, as it keeps her memory alive.

“It’s unbelievable really how it’s still news. But I always said I’d do anything it took to keep Rachel’s memory alive.

“It has just captured everyone’s imagination and it has never died down.

“I don’t want anyone ever to forget what was done to Rachel in any shape or form,” she said.

Tragic Rachel was battered to death by Joe at their home in Naul, North Co Dublin in October 2004.

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And Rose says this new documentary was particularly harrowing for her and her husband Jim, as it went into a lot of detail.

“They seemed to go into it a lot more in depth.

“But it was heavy going. You know it is between your two eyes all the time but really sort of putting it out there or even talking about it, it’s horrific really.

“It is extraordinary you know I often think of her especially at a time like that when you’re doing a documentary like that and you’re looking at photos of her when she was young and you just think, she was such a live wire and such a good heart.

“Just no badness in her at all. It’s just horrific to think of how her life was taken from her.”

Rose says she often thinks how if Joe had just divorced Rachel, she could still have gone on to have a happy life.



05/06/2019 (L to R) Parents of Rachel Callaly (L to R) Jim Callaly & Rose Callaly during a protest by families of murder victims who are demanding an overhaul of sentencing structures including day release scheme,the protracted parole system & the place families occupy in the mind of the outside the department of Justice, Dublin

But she says the callous killer, who was cheating on his wife with lover Nikki Pelley, just wanted it all.

“Even if he’d have divorced Rachel she would have definitely made a life for herself but no, he wanted it his way. He wanted rid of her and that’s what he done.

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“He tried to destroy her to be honest with you.”

The killer, who is serving a life sentence for his wife’s murder, believes he’s entitled to enhanced visits with his children, and a move to an open prison.

But he feels prison bosses are not giving him that chance, following the discovery of a USB containing hundreds of movies and music, in his possession.

And reacting to that, Rose says the last thing O’Reilly should be doing right now is moaning.

“He done that to himself. He can’t moan about anything that’s happening to him.

“He’s getting off very lightly really. I’ll keep praying that he doesn’t get any (freedoms).

“God knows what was on it. Even so he shouldn’t have had it,” she added.

Rose says she feels O’Reilly is lucky that he is still has a life, and that she and her family are the ones serving the true life sentence.

“At least he has a life. He chose to do what he done but he didn’t give his victim or even have any thought of her.”