Man pleads guilty to 2012 murder of criminal Eamon Kelly

A Dublin man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to the murder of veteran criminal Eamon Kelly in Killester in 2012.

Seán Connolly (35), of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, had been charged at a special sitting of the non-jury court with the murder of Mr Kelly at Furry Park Road, Killester, on December 4th, 2012.

Connolly had also been charged with IRA membership and with possession of a firearm on the same occasion.His trial on all three counts was due to commence on Tuesday in the three-judge court.

However, Connolly pleaded guilty to the murder of Mr Kelly on his arraignment and the court was told that the remaining two counts would proceed no further.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paul Greene SC, told the court that there were three counts on the indictment and a response to the count of murder was "likely".

Connolly's barrister, Paul Burns SC, confirmed that his client "may be arraigned" on the count of murder.

When asked by the registrar of the Special Criminal Court to stand up, Connolly made no reaction.

The registrar asked if he was Seán Connolly, to which he replied “yeah”.

When asked how he would plead to count 1 – that on December 4th 2012 in Killester in Dublin, he murdered Eamon Kelly – Connolly said “guilty”.

Mr Greene told the court that a nolle prosequi – a decision not to proceed – would be entered on the outstanding counts.

A Victim Impact Report was being prepared, Mr Greene said, and a date of Friday May 1st next was set for the court to convene again.

The trial, which was expected to last three weeks, was due to be heard before Mr Justice Paul Butler, Judge Alison Lindsay and Judge Flann Brennan. There was a large garda presence in court with senior officers, detectives and uniformed gardaí­ in attendance.