Graham Dwyer has only hours left to appeal his conviction for the murder of Elaine O'Hara.
In March, Dwyer (42), an architect from Kerrymount Close, Foxrock, Dublin, was found guilty of murdering childcare worker Ms O’Hara (36) on August 22nd, 2012.
Her remains were found on Killakee Mountain, Rathfarnham, on September 13th, 2013. Dwyer had stabbed her to death for his own sexual gratification, the jury found. He was sentenced to life imprisonment .
He was given 21 days by Mr Justice Tony Hunt to formally appeal his conviction.
His appeal papers had still not been lodged with the court authorities by Friday. Dwyer is strongly expected to lodge an appeal by close of business tomorrow.
The issues Dwyer is likely to raise include the mobile phone evidence introduced by the prosecution, his questioning while in custody and the decision to allow Darci Day, a key witness, to give evidence by video link.
After he was sentenced last month, his defence counsel, Remy Farrell, applied for legal aid on his behalf in the event of an appeal.
Judge Hunt, who presided over the trial for more than two months, said at the sentencing hearing that Dwyer “richly deserved” the life sentence imposed by the court.
He said “a dangerous man is out of the way”.
A victim impact statement from Elaine O’Hara’s father, Frank O’Hara, said that the family is serving a life sentence from which there is no parole.