Courts / Kildare / Report

Dad-of-five jailed for 2.5 years for attacking man who later died

Date
2017-12-18

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Kildare

County
Kildare

Summary

Paul Gill, a 37‑year‑old construction worker from Naas, pleaded guilty to assaulting Patrick "Patsy" Kelly, 58, and Martin Curtis on 22 August 2015. He admitted punching Kelly in the face, dragging him eight metres from Curtis's front door and kicking him once in the head, then attacking Curtis when he arrived. Emergency services performed CPR on Kelly, who later died. Post‑mortem found Kelly died of heart disease, with the assault's minor trauma contributing. Gill had previously pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and was acquitted after a six‑day trial. Judge Melanie Greally, noting aggravating factors such as Kelly's vulnerability and intoxication, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year jail sentence for the assault on Kelly, taking the assault on Curtis into account. The sentence reflected Gill's guilty plea, admissions, remorse, and the impact on Kelly's family. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dad-of-five jailed for 2.5 years for attacking man who later died. Charges or matters: assaulting the deceased Patrick "Patsy" Kelly (58) and his former neighbour, 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
2017-12-18 Publication

Why: He agreed that Gill had a vague recollection of what had happened because he had 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 his former neighbour, 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; Gill then attacked Mr Curtis when he arrived on the scene, Detective Garda Enda Coleman told Orla Crowe SC, prosecuting, during the sentence hearing last week. Taking all the circumstances into account she imposed a two and a half year sentence on Gill in relation to the assault on Mr Kelly and took the assault on Mr Curtis into account.