Ireland Former garda reserve jailed for sexually abusing boy he befriended in Co Waterford
Former garda reserve James Anthony Kelly (57) of Butlerstown, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexual offences against a boy he befriended. The offences were committed between March 2000 and March 2003, when the boy was aged 14 to 17, in various unknown locations in Co Waterford. The victim reported the abuse to gardaí in October 2018, and GSOC interviewed Kelly on September 9th, 2020, while the matter was being investigated. Kelly was jailed for six and a half years on January 22nd, 2024, with the final 18 months of an eight-year sentence suspended on condition that he engage with the Probation Service for 18 months upon release.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced22 Jan
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Kelly pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and two counts of gross indecency of a child.
- Where
- The offences occurred in various unknown locations in Co Waterford.
- When
- The offences were committed on dates between March 2000 and March 2003.
- The victim was aged between 14 and 17 when the offences occurred.
- Other details
- Kelly first encountered the victim when the victim was 10 years old.
- Kelly was a member of the Garda Reserves from 2011 until 2019.
- Cause
- Garda Fiona Garrett told the court that Kelly was involved in various youth clubs at the times of the offences.
- Investigation
- The victim reported the abuse to gardaí in October 2018.
- Kelly was interviewed by GSOC on September 9th, 2020, while the matter was being investigated.
- In court
- Kelly accepted there had been sexual contact between the two but denied grooming the boy.
- There was no victim impact statement before the court.
- The victim waived his anonymity, allowing Kelly to be named.
- Sentence
- Kelly was jailed for six and a half years, with the judge imposing eight years and suspending the final 18 months.
- A condition of the suspended portion is that Kelly engage with the Probation Service for 18 months upon his release.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whereThe offences occurred in various unknown locations in Co Waterford. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences were committed on dates between March 2000 and March 2003. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe victim reported the abuse to gardaí in October 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationKelly was interviewed by GSOC on September 9th, 2020, when the matter was being investigated. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKelly pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and two counts of gross indecency of a child. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere was no victim impact statement before the court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceA former garda reserve was jailed for six and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceA condition of the suspended portion is that Kelly engage with the Probation Service for 18 months upon his release. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim was aged between 14 and 17 when the offences occurred. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly first encountered the victim when the victim was 10 years old. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly was a member of the Garda Reserves from 2011 until 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly accepted there had been sexual contact between the two but denied grooming the boy. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim waived his anonymity, allowing Kelly to be named. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jan2024Former garda reserve jailed for six-and-a-half years for sexually abusing young boy he befriended
Sentencing report. Kelly pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, two counts of oral rape and two counts of gross indecency of a child. The judge imposed eight years with the final 18 months suspended, and the offences occurred when the victim was 14 to 17.
convicted, James Anthony Kelly, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Anthony Kellyvictim, male