The law is an ass.. so change it

CELINE Cawley’s family’s brave intervention should serve as a wake-up call to the Government, sick killers should never profit from their crime.

The harrowing testimonies of her brother and sister yesterday laid bare just how utterly unjust our laws on succession are.

It’s absolutely incredible to think the family had to battle like hell in the courts to ensure Celine’s estate went to her daughter.

It’s shocking and sick to realise we live in a country where her killer, her husband Eamon Lillis, was entitled to a big chunk of her hardearned assets.

The successful businesswoman had become quite wealthy and Lillis thought he could live it up on her account even after he killed her.

The fact he can inherit any of the estate of his wife he killed is absolutely absurd.

The facts go to prove once again that the law really is an ass in Ireland.

There is plans afoot for change, with Fianna Fail’s justice spokesman Jim O’callaghan trying to progress his Prevention of Benefits from Homicide Bill through the Dail.

But he is meeting some resistance, with Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan stalling for the time being and leaving it to his officials to scrutinise the proposed legislation.

The time for naval-gazing on this one is over, Mr Flanagan should grab this opportunity and change the law. That’s what he was elected for.