Ireland Brother of Limerick murder victim welcomes cancellation of killer's Section 39 prison visit
Gerard Bourke, brother of Sylvia Roche Kelly who was murdered at the Clarion Hotel in Limerick in 2007, said he was 'delighted' that a planned Section 39 supervised prison visit for her convicted killer Jerry McGrath was cancelled after he raised concerns with the Minister for Justice's office.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted2 Dec
2 reports - Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatIn April 2007, McGrath attacked a taxi driver (tipperarylive.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- whatSix months later, while on bail, McGrath was caught trying to abduct a five-year-old girl from her bedroom in Tipperary (tipperarylive.ie)
- whatSylvia Roche Kelly was 33 years old at the time of her death (limerickleader.ie)
- whatShe was the mother of two children (limerickleader.ie)
- whatSix months later, while on bail, he was caught trying to abduct a five-year-old girl from her bedroom in Tipperary (limerickleader.ie)
- whereJerry McGrath is from Tipperary (tipperarylive.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at the Clarion Hotel in Limerick city (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe planned visit was to take place at a neutral location in Kildare (limerickleader.ie)
- whenSylvia Roche Kelly was murdered on 7 December 2007 at the Clarion Hotel in Limerick city (tipperarylive.ie)
- whenSylvia Roche Kelly was murdered on 7 December 2007 (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe 15th anniversary of the murder was two weeks away from the article date (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMcGrath was convicted of the murder (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMcGrath was due to be released for a Section 39 supervised prison visit (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceMcGrath was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder (tipperarylive.ie)
- sentenceMcGrath was sentenced to life imprisonment (limerickleader.ie)
- otherMcGrath was due to be released for a Section 39 supervised visit at a neutral location in Kildare (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe visit was cancelled after Bourke contacted the Minister for Justice's office (tipperarylive.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- otherMcGrath fled to the UK after the murder (tipperarylive.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- otherMcGrath was on bail for other serious crimes at the time of the murder (tipperarylive.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- otherMcGrath was released on bail for the abduction and two months later killed Roche Kelly (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherRoche Kelly was 33 years old and a mother of two (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherMcGrath applied for parole after seven years and again after 13 years (tipperarylive.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe family was inspired to speak to media after the Kevin Sheehy case (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherShe had been out for a birthday night with friends before the murder (limerickleader.ie)
- otherHe was released on bail for the abduction and two months later killed Roche Kelly (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe family was inspired to speak to the media after the Kevin Sheehy family's successful appeal (limerickleader.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Dec2022Brother of Limerick woman murdered in hotel welcomes U-turn on killer's 'supervised' family visit
Reports the cancellation of a Section 39 prison visit for convicted murderer Jerry McGrath after the victim's brother raised concerns. Provides background on McGrath's prior criminal record, including a taxi driver attack and a child abduction attempt while on bail, and notes the family was inspired to speak publicly by the Kevin Sheehy family's successful appeal.
victim, Sylvia Roche Kelly, 33, female, irish (judged from name)Sylvia Roche Kellyconvicted, Jerry McGrath, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jerry McGrath - 2 Dec2022Brother of woman murdered in hotel welcomes U-turn on Tipperary killer's 'supervised' family visit
Adds detail on McGrath's prior offences (taxi driver attack in April 2007, attempted abduction of a five-year-old girl in Tipperary while on bail), Bourke's quotes about the timing near the 15th anniversary, McGrath's parole applications after seven and 13 years, and the family's decision to speak to media inspired by the Kevin Sheehy case.
victim, Sylvia Roche Kelly, 33, female, irish (judged from name)Sylvia Roche Kellyconvicted, Jerry McGrath, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jerry McGrath