Stephen Kelly jailed for seven years for rifle and burglary

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

Stephen Kelly was jailed for seven years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of a rifle, burglary and violent disorder. Judge Martin Nolan imposed consecutive sentences. The proceedings were reported on 15 January 2015.

Kelly pleaded guilty to all three offences. The violent disorder occurred at St Patrick’s Institution on 18 March 2013, the burglary on 12 March 2014 and the rifle offence on 25 March 2014.

The court heard that Kelly and three other inmates caused €33,000 damage to the institution’s library after attacking two prison officers with chair and table legs. Judge Nolan said prison staff were injured.

A house was ransacked during the burglary. Stolen belongings were returned after being found in a BMW in which Kelly was a passenger. He was charged with the burglary the following November, after gardaí linked the recovered items to the break-in.

The report said Kelly pointed a bolt-action rifle at gardaí. Garda Enda Daly agreed with James Dwyer, prosecuting, that a subsequent examination found it incapable of firing, but said he had no way of knowing that at the time.

Pieter Le Vert, defending, said Kelly apologised and accepted that the incident must have terrified the gardaí. He said Kelly had been under significant pressure because of drug use and had been asked to move the gun. Counsel reported that Kelly was doing well in prison, working in the laundry and completing courses.

Kelly committed the March 2014 offences while on bail for violent disorder. The report recorded 49 previous convictions and said he was already serving six years for robbery. Judge Nolan said the gardaí had good reason to believe their lives were in danger and accepted there was some hope for Kelly’s rehabilitation.