Mum of 4 ‘ashamed’ of her role in killing

A mother of four who killed a grandfather at a party in Waterford last year told a judge she is “ashamed” of what she has done.

Joanna Kelly, aged 40, wrote a letter to Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, which was read on her behalf at a Central Criminal Court sentence hearing yesterday.

Kelly and Michelle Hynes, aged 41, both of no fixed abode, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Joe O’Brien. A third person, Patrick Keating, is serving a life sentence for murdering the 60-year-old at an apartment on William St in the city on Apr 23, 2012.

Isobel Kennedy, defending, read the handwritten letter from Kelly to the judge. “There’s not a day goes by that I do not think of Joe O’Brien and his family and the loss they have suffered,” said Kelly. “I have never been involved in any sort of violence, I am entirely ashamed.”

Det Garda David Butler testified on Monday that five people were drinking in the apartment. At one stage, while in the bathroom, the occupant heard three thumps. He returned to see Mr O’Brien lying on the floor and Keating striking him with a dumbbell.

“Joanna Kelly and Michelle Hynes joined in, kicking him while he was defenceless on the ground.”

The detective said Kelly had 15 previous convictions for offences including assault, criminal damage, theft, and larceny. Hynes had 24 previous convictions for crimes including assault, drunk driving, criminal damage, and theft.

Kelly and Hynes will be sentenced next Thursday.