Councillor set to face court over traffic offences

LABOUR Party councillor Nicky Kelly is set to face court accused of a series of road traffic offences next month, including one of dangerous driving.

Mr Kelly, a member of Wicklow County Council, is facing a total of seven charges arising out of a road traffic accident near Rathnew, Co Wicklow, on November 20, 2005.

Mr Kelly, is well-known as a result of being wrongly jailed for four years for the Sallins train robbery in 1976 in a famous miscarriage of justice. The current case against him is due to go ahead on November 22 at Wicklow District Court.

Mr Kelly, a full-time public representative of Highfield Avenue, Arklow, Co Wicklow, is charged with dangerous driving and having no insurance, motor tax or driving licence on the date of the accident as well as three charges of failing to produce documentation.

A Mercedes driven by Mr Kelly was involved in a collision with a jeep at Milltown South on the Rathnew-Glenealy road almost a year ago. The councillor required treatment at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.

Two units of the Wicklow Fire Brigade had to use cutting equipment to release him from his vehicle, although his injuries were not life-threatening.

However, Mr Kelly’s stay in hospital led to an adjournment of the criminal case earlier this year.

At a sitting of Wicklow District Court yesterday, Judge Donnchadh Ó Buachalla fixed the case for hearing in the same court on November 22.

Mr Kelly, a public representative for the Arklow area for the past 12 years, is hoping to secure a nomination to contest the next general election as a Labour Party candidate.

The party has already selected its deputy leader and outgoing Wicklow TD, Liz McManus to stand for re-election.