Siobhan Kearney's diary was found hidden behind the tank in the hot press by gardaí who searched the house after Ms Kearney's death, the Central Criminal Court heard today.
The court in the trial of Brian Kearney was also told that her passport was discovered hidden in a sheet in the hot press.
The writing in the large A4 size diary was identified by Ann Marie Sparks as being that of her sister Siobhan.
The court heard that entries in the diary began on 27 January 2006 and the last entry was on 27 February 2006, the day before Ms Kearney's body was found in her bedroom.
Earlier, the solicitor consulted by Siobhan Kearney in January 2006 about a legal separation told the court that he thought that he had advised her to keep a diary.
Gardaí also found a €500 note wrapped in wrapping paper in the bottom drawer of the dressing table in Ms Kearney's bedroom.
Evidence about Brian Kearney's financial affairs was also revealed to the court.
Toni Massey, an accountant who works for the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, said that Brian Kearney's assets were worth €4.6m in February 2006, taking into account all borrowings and capital gain tax owed.
Ms Massey said that Mr Kearney would have had a net income of almost €120,000, or almost €10,000 per month, in 2004.
However, borrowings on the hotel in Spain and the house the Kearneys were building next door came to more than €15,000 a month.
There was a loan of around €850,000 against the family home.
Ms Massey said if the couple had separated, Mr Kearney would have needed to sell the family home or the new house built next door to relieve the financial pressure caused by this loan.
The court also heard from a ballistics expert from the Garda Technical Bureau. Detective Garda Thomas Carey gave evidence that the vacuum cleaner flex found around Siobhan Kearney's body had broken and had not been cut, according to tests he had carried out.
The prosecution in the trial of Brian Kearney has concluded its case.
