Brothers guilty of causing uncle serious harm in house row

Two Co Kerry brothers have been convicted by a jury at the Circuit Court in Tralee of causing their uncle serious harm in a row at his home.

The jury returned a unanimous verdict in the cases of Robert Kelly (32), Ogham Rian, Tralee, and Tommy Kelly (34), Marian Park, Tralee, who had denied causing Gerald Fitzgerald (49) serious harm at Mitchells Road, Tralee, on November 8th, 2011.

They were remanded in custody until July 14th, when a date for sentencing is due to be fixed. The jury had earlier asked to see parts of a broken brush and tennis racquets, which were among the items found in Mr Fitzgerald’s home by gardaí.

In interviews at Tralee Garda station, the brothers admitted exchanging blows with Mr Fitzgerald, but both denied putting a tennis racquet handle into his rectum.

The three men had been drinking together in Tralee, and returned to Mr Fitzgerald’s home, where they had more drinks and a row broke out, the court was told.

According to medical reports, Mr Fitzgerald had swelling and bleeding in his brain, extensive lacerations to his scalp and face and laceration of the liver and rectum.