Courts / Wexford / Report

Woman who killed 60-year-old man told she must quit drinking to avoid being sent back to prison

Date
2015-12-21
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Gorey
County
Wexford

Summary

In December 2013, Johanna Kelly, aged 42, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Patrick O'Brien, a 60‑year‑old man, and was sentenced to a term with two years suspended on the condition that she engage with addiction rehabilitation and educational courses. In December 2015, the Central Criminal Court heard that since her release earlier that year, Ms Kelly had missed appointments with probation services and failed to attend the rehabilitation programme at Cluain Mhuire Addiction Treatment Centre. Probation officer Catherine Lambert reported that Ms Kelly missed a September appointment because she could not get out of bed after drinking too much, and that she had seen other people drinking at her home in Gorey. She also noted that Ms Kelly had not attended a hairdressing course arranged by social services.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman who killed 60-year-old man told she must quit drinking to avoid being sent back to prison. Charges or matters: the manslaughter of Patrick O'Brien and was sentenced in December 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: Wexford-based probation officer Catherine Lambert gave evidence that Ms Kelly failed to make one of her appointments in September because she could not get out of bed after drinking too much. CNI source report

Case subjects

Johanna Kelly

Background Person

Charges: the manslaughter of Patrick O'Brien and was sentenced in December 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Two years of the sentence were suspended on the condition she engage with addiction rehabilitation and educational courses provided by the probation services. He told her that she must not drink in the interim and that if she failed to comply she would be sent back to prison to serve the suspended two-year sentence.; Justice McCarthy adjourned the case until January 11, telling Ms Kelly that she must call Cluain Mhuire every day in an attempt to gain entry for rehabilitation.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • The Central Criminal court

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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