Woman ‘ashamed’ of killing man (60)

A mother-of-four who killed a grandfather at a party in Waterford last year has told a judge she is “ashamed” of what she has done.

Joanna Kelly (40) wrote a letter to Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, which was read to the court on her behalf at a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.

Kelly and Michelle Hynes (41), both of no fixed abode, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Joe O’Brien.

A third person, Patrick Keating, is serving a life sentence for murdering the 60-year-old at an apartment on William Street in the city on April 23rd, 2012.

Yesterday, Isobel Kennedy SC, defending, read the handwritten letter from Kelly to the judge.

“There’s not a day goes by that I do not think of Joe O’Brien and his family and the loss they have suffered,” wrote Kelly.

“I have never been involved in any sort of violence, I am entirely ashamed.”

She said alcohol was no excuse for her actions and that she would never drink again.

“Alcohol is no excuse for causing harm to anybody and because of my actions and where it [alcohol] has led me I will never consume another drink again,” she wrote.

“I want you to know that this is a matter that rests very heavily on me every day and which will always be with me until the day I die. It is a sentence which I will carry with me to my grave.”

Det Garda David Butler said Kelly had 15 previous convictions for offences including assault, criminal damage, theft and larceny.

He said Hynes had 24 previous convictions for crimes including assault, drunk driving, criminal damage and theft.

Det Garda Butler said both had been in custody since their arrest shortly after the killing.

Mr Justice McCarthy said he would sentence the women next Thursday.