Court rejects appeal against murder conviction
The Court of Criminal Appeal has rejected today an appeal brought by a Co Galway man against his conviction for the murder of an elderly woman more than 25 years ago.
Yesterday, the three judge CCA, presided over by Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, sitting with Mr Justice Michael Hanna and Mr Justice Anthony McCarthy, and judgment dismissed an appeal brought by Michael Joseph Kelly against his conviction for the murder of 87-year-old Margaret Glynn.
Kelly (aged 54), of Castleblakeny, Ballinasloe, Co Galway was convicted in March 1983 of the murder of Mrs Glynn at her home at Keeves, Ballinkore Bridge, Co Galway, on the night of November 14/15, 1981.
Today's verdict was greeted with lengthy silence in what was packed courtroom.
Mr Kelly declined to speak to the press afterwards, however his solicitor Mr Greg O'Neill said that while he was disappointed with the verdict, Mr Kelly was determined to continue to clear his name.
Mr O'Neill added that Mr Kelly may seek to have the matter appealed to the Supreme Court.
The bodies of Mrs Glynn and her brother Martin were removed from the house by firefighters after a fire.
Martin Glynn was found to have died of natural causes but it was alleged Mrs Glynn died of asphyxia due to manual strangulation.
It was alleged at his trial that Kelly, who was working for the Glynns at the time, had strangled Mrs Glynn and then set fire to her bed.
Kelly was convicted of Mrs Glynn's murder in March 1983 and given a life sentence, but was released on licence more than a decade ago.
