Man who helped burn garda car spared jail despite appeal

An ex-businessman who, with others, burned a garda’s private car after she seized a vehicle for having no insurance, has been spared jail despite an appeal by prosecutors.

Neil Kelly, aged 41, with a last address at Bohatch, Mountshannon, Co Clare, had pleaded guilty at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court to the criminal damage of Garda Áine Troy’s car at Scarriff Garda Station in the early hours of March 19, 2013.

He was given a wholly suspended three-year sentence by Judge Gerard Keyes on May 1, 2015.