Courts / Kildare / Report

Father-of-five to be sentenced for assaulting man who later died

Date
2017-12-11

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Kildare

County
Kildare

Summary

Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, Kildare, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, aged 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Kelly and was acquitted of manslaughter after a six‑day trial. Witnesses said Gill confronted Kelly outside Curtis's house, punched him in the face, dragged him eight metres from the front door, and kicked him once in the head. Gill then attacked Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, but he died. Post‑mortem showed heart disease as the cause of death, with the assault's minor trauma as a contributing factor. Gill has eight prior convictions, including a 2000 assault. The case is set for sentencing next Monday, with the judge warning of a likely custodial element.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Father-of-five to be sentenced for assaulting man who later died. Charges or matters: assaulting the deceased Patrick "Patsy" Kelly (58) and another man, Martin Curtis, on August 22, 2015; unlawfully killing Mr Kelly during the same incident and was acquitted of manslaughter after a six-day trial last month. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Acquitted

When:

August 22, 2015 Incident
Christmas Incident
2017-12-11 Publication

Why: He agreed that Gill had vague recollection of what had happened because he'd been drinking but that he had answered all questions and admitted the assaults. CNI source report

Case subjects

Paul Gill

Applicant

Charges: assaulting the deceased Patrick "Patsy" Kelly (58) and another man, Martin Curtis, on August 22, 2015; unlawfully killing Mr Kelly during the same incident and was acquitted of manslaughter after a six-day trial last month (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Acquitted

Outcome: Acquitted; Judge Greally remanded Gill on continuing bail and put the matter back for sentence to next Monday.; Judge Greally remanded Gill on continuing bail and put the matter back for sentence to next Monday.