EAMONN Lillis was surprised at the length of his near-seven-year prison sentence for killing his wife Celine Cawley, sources have said.

Fifty-two-year-old Lillis was sentenced last Friday to six years and 11 months for the manslaughter of his wife. He told prison officers that the term was at the higher end of what he was expecting.

A source close to Lillis said that he was asked what he thought of his sentence after being led away from the Central Criminal Court on Friday.

"He said it was in the upper limits of what he would have expected," the source said.

It was the only reaction noted from the father-of-one, who remained tightlipped for the duration of the tense three-week trial.

His surprise at the sentence was reflected by his defence team, who immediately announced their intention to appeal the duration of the term.

This morning, he woke up to his first Sunday behind bars at Wheatfield prison, where his official registration number is 55511. With the 25% remission which is automatically applied to his sentence, Lillis is expected to be free by April 2015.

During sentencing, Judge Barry White accused Lillis of being selfish and criticised the manner in which he finally expressed remorse to his victim's family.

"Your expression of sorrow and remorse rings hollow to me and I consider it to be self-serving," he said before handing down sentence. "I respect your right to plead not guilty but consider that an offer of a plea to manslaughter would have demonstrated true contrition and remorse."

Lillis was found guilty of the manslaughter of Celine Cawley on 1 February.