Sentence in Patsy Kelly death case put back by judge

A Kildare father-of-four who assaulted a man who later died has had his sentence postponed due to difficulties the deceased's family have with omitting parts of their victim impact evidence. Paul Gill (37) (pictured with Garda) of Sarto Road, Naas, Co Kildare pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting the deceased Patrick “Patsy” Kelly and Martin Curtis near his home on August 22, 2015. He had pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mr Kelly during the same incident and was acquitted of manslaughter after a six day trial last month. The jury heard evidence that the row was over late night drinking and noise at Mr Curtis's home on Sarto Road spanning seven years. Yesterday Judge Melanie Greally said she didn't wish the Kelly family to feel they have been “sidelined” but she had to deal with the assault sentence within the confines of the law. She said she could understand why the family would question why the law is the way it is given the circumstances of the case, but she had to abide by it. Orla Crowe SC, prosecuting, told Judge Greally that the Victims of Crime Act 2017 has extended the categories for victim impact evidence. She said family members could be treated as direct victims of crime in the result of a death. Judge Greally remanded Gill, a construction worker, on continuing bail and put the matter back for sentence to December.