The trial of Eamonn Lillis for the murder of his wife Celine Cawley has heard that he began an affair ten weeks before his wife died.
Mr Lillis, 52, denies murdering his 46-year-old wife at their home in Howth on 15 December 2008.
The court heard that he was having an affair with Jean Treacy, who gave him a regular massage in a local beauty salon.
It also heard that Ms Treacy told gardaí that Mr Lillis told her he was not happy in his marriage and had told his wife that.
Mr Lillis was woken up by gardaí early on the morning of 20 December 2008 and arrested for his wife's murder.
In an interview that morning with gardaí, he told them his relationship with his wife on a professional and personal level was very, very close. ‘We were really good friends,’ he said. ‘She was a tower of strength to me really.’
Mr Lillis said he did not kill his wife. ‘I swear before God. I couldn't do it to Celine,’ he said. When asked if he loved her he said: ‘God, yes.’
He initially denied knowing Ms Treacy well. He said he would go to the Howth Haven salon every Friday for a massage, mostly with Jean and did not know her apart from general chit-chat.
However, when gardaí put a statement that Ms Treacy had made to him, he admitted the affair.
Mr Lillis said it had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to his wife. He said he supposed it was a form of mid-life crisis.
Ms Treacy told gardaí she had begun an affair with Mr Lillis ten weeks previously after he had come to her for a massage. She said she had been in his house at Windgate Road in Howth three times.
Gardaí put it to Mr Lillis in the same interview that what had happened on the morning of 15 December was a terrible tragedy, that he had had a row with Celine and had just flipped out. Mr Lillis shook his head in response.
Technical evidence
Earlier, the jury heard evidence from garda technical experts. Det Garda Alan Curry described finding a man's watch in an upstairs bedroom used by Mr Lillis.
The face of the watch was smeared and the links and clasp were also smeared with blood and tissue, the court heard.
He also described finding a polo-shirt and runner boots that were also stained with blood.
The jurors watched a video showing the interior of the home the couple shared.
