Courts / Kilkenny / Report

Firearms defendant received longer sentence than co-accused with 13 convictions, appeal hears

Date
2023-01-30

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Slieverue

Summary

In a 2023 Court of Appeal hearing, Chris Kelly, aged 32, received a six‑year jail term with the last year suspended for possession of a firearm, a longer sentence than his co‑accused Kealan Madden, who had 13 prior convictions and was sentenced to five years with the final 12 months suspended. Kelly pleaded guilty to possession of a handgun on 20 May 2020 at Ballinlaw, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny, where Gardaí stopped him and two other men. The vehicle was searched, revealing a semi‑automatic pistol and 47 rounds of ammunition, all of which had been modified for live fire. Kelly resisted arrest and was forcibly removed. Madden, seated in the rear, was found with a dark green sock containing a tray of ammunition.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Firearms defendant received longer sentence than co-accused with 13 convictions, appeal hears. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm on May 20, 2020, at Ballinlaw, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny, when he and two other men were stopped by gardaí. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

May 20, 2020 Incident
December 2021 Incident
February 17 Hearing Or Sentence
2023-01-30 Publication

Case subjects

Chris Kelly

Convicted Person

Charges: possession of a firearm on May 20, 2020, at Ballinlaw, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny, when he and two other men were stopped by gardaí (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the last year suspended by Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court in December 2021.

Kealan Madden

Appellant