Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of male who died in Kilkenny fire 15 years ago
A 35-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of another male who died in a fire in his caravan in Kilkenny almost 16 years ago.
On Monday at the Central Criminal Court Martin Kelly pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Gerry Nolan (44) on July 24, 2006, at Deerpark, Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny.
In 2020, Kelly had been charged with murder of Mr Nolan but today Sean Gillane SC, for the DPP, said the plea to manslaughter was acceptable to the State.
Kelly, of Church Avenue, Castlecomer, who wore a navy shirt and jumper in court replied "not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter", when the murder charge was put to him by the registrar at the brief hearing.
Defence barrister Michael Bowman SC told Mr Justice Paul McDermott that five weeks would be needed for the preparation of psychological and psychiatric reports for Kelly.
Mr Justice McDermott adjourned the matter to June 20 for sentence hearing.
Today's Headlines
serious injuries | Irish tourist rushed to hospital after plunging from a hotel balcony in Santa Ponsa
horrific | Young mum arrested for drink driving after garda left with life-changing injuries
mobbed by fans | Rihanna and ASAP Rocky spotted in south London barber shop
Bumper deal | Details of Mohamed Salah’s new Liverpool contract are revealed
airport chaos | Irish holidaymakers face weeks of travel misery as Covid grounds more airline flights
mixed bag | Sunny spells and scattered showers forecast as temperatures set to rise
fake it all back | Celebs don’t like big butts and they cannot lie judging by the latest boom-to-bust surgery trend
Booze grab | Woman (52) stole bottles of Grey Goose vodka, steak and ‘grave flowers’ from supermarket
stone the crows | Former councillor finds out crows are behind pebble thefts from his daughter's grave
bite injuries | Young girl was hospitalised after ‘Staffordshire’ dog got loose and bit her, court hears