Shane Kelly jailed for 13 years for raping elderly neighbour

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Shane Kelly was jailed for 13 years after admitting the rape and attempted rape of his 70-year-old neighbour during a violent home invasion in Longford. The Central Criminal Court heard that Kelly forced his way into her home in the early hours of 25 February 2025, sexually assaulted and choked her, and took €25. The judge said the offence caused harm that was life-altering and that Kelly’s culpability was particularly extreme.

Kelly pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape, one count of oral rape, one count of anal rape and one count of burglary. Ms Justice Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of 18 years, reduced it to 14 and a half years to account for mitigating factors, and suspended the final 18 months on conditions. The operative sentence is therefore 13 years in custody.