Courts / Galway / Report

Judge tells members of abuser's family 'not permissible' to write privately to her

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 3 April 2025, Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Paul Kelly, 46, to seven and a half years' imprisonment for repeated rape and sexual abuse of his younger brother, Anthony Kelly. The judge noted that the abuse occurred between 1995 and 1999, when Paul was aged 16 to 20, and that it involved 12 counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and 12 counts of anal rape. Anthony, aged 10 to 14 at the time, had suffered lasting trauma and had come forward with a complaint in 2021. Judge Greally said the case was aggravated by the regularity of the offending, the extended period, the breach of trust and the fact that it took place within the family home. She also addressed letters from members of Paul's family, stating that it is "not permissible" to write privately to a judge about reporting restrictions, and that justice must be administered publicly. Paul Kelly was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge tells members of abuser's family 'not permissible' to write privately to her. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• 1995 and 1999 Incident
• 1997 and 1999 Incident
• 2025-04-03 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report