WE'LL DO ALL WE CAN TO STOP WIFE KILLER JOE'S BID TO BE FREE

Rachel's family to meet Parole Board | O'Reilly seeks jail release after 16 years

- PAUL HEALY

WIFE killer Joe O’Reilly has been given a date in September for the Parole Board to once again hear his pleas to be freed from prison.

But the devastated family of murder victim Rachel Calally say they will do everything in their power to prevent O’Reilly’s latest bid, and will themselves have their first ever meeting with the Parole Board next month.

After years of writing letters to keep the infamous killer behind bars, Rachel’s family finally have been given the opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting with members of the board that is set to decide the killer’s fate.

Her brother Paul said: “We’ve arranged a meeting in August.

“So far I’ve found them very helpful. It’s totally different from any other time before.

“We’re actually going in to meet them and tell them how we feel face to face. At least when you’re in front of them they can kind of see the pain and maybe understand a bit more.”

We have learned that O’Reilly, who has served 16 years for the brutal 2004 murder of his wife, will meet with the Parole Board this September – and plead for the fourth time since his incarceration, for release. Before that members of the board have agreed to meet with Rachel’s family, with her mother Rose and Paul set to tell them why the brute shouldn’t get out.