A retired religious brother jailed for a record 36 years after admitting 18 sex offences against children in his care today had the balance of his sentence. suspended.
James Kelly (75) who was known as Brother Ambrose when he worked at a boys' home in Cork had served just 18 months in prison before today's review of his sentence.
But Kelly was not immediately released as he is still completing a sentence imposed previously for sex offences committed in Galway.
When he does finally get out of jail in February next year Kelly will leave Ireland and be under the constant supervision and care of his Brothers of Charity religious order in the UK.
At his trial in 1999 he initially denied the charges but later admitted 18 sample counts of sex abuse against three boys in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
He was given consecutive two-year sentences on each charge by Judge Murphy sitting at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The judge said the case was to be reviewed in 18 months.
Today Judge Murphy said the court had a duty to recognise Kelly had "come to his senses long before any charges were levelled against him" and should show charity and justice, even though those qualities had not been shown to Kelly's victims.
The original sentence had underlined the court's abhorrence of the crimes committed.
After today's development one of Kelly's victims, now an adult, said he felt "let down" by the court's ruling.
PA