Latest news with #MsKelly
The Irish Sun
07-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Woman, 34, facing trial for ‘solely' setting fire to bus causing €477k damage during Dublin riots weeps in court
A WOMAN accused of "solely" setting fire to a Dublin Bus, which was "completely destroyed" during the November 2023 riots, has been sent forward for trial. Violence broke out after a girl, aged five, was severely wounded, and two other Advertisement Leanne Kelly, 34, who is from She was charged last week and faced her latest appearance before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court on Monday when The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that she face "trial on indictment" at a higher level with greater sentencing powers. Judge Finan acceded to a request from prosecutor Sharon Rossiter to grant a return for trial, sending her case forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Advertisement Read more in News When Ms Kelly was first charged in April, the judge set her bail at €300 and required a €3,000 independent surety, which had to be approved before Ms Kelly could be released under strict terms. However, she had been unable to take it up and remained in custody since then. Her solicitor, Niall O'Connor, asked the court to consider reducing the bail, adding that her client would be able to live with relatives in Co Wicklow and was a different person now. However, Detective Garda Barry Brennan objected. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Exclusive He agreed with Mr O'Connor that the bus had already been damaged before Ms Kelly allegedly got involved. However, he maintained that she "solely caused it to be set alight". He alleged the incident occurred during the "Dublin riots" and he claimed that at about 7.30 pm, Ms Kelly picked up a piece of rubbish and ran to a garda car that had been set on fire. Detective Garda Brennan said she "extracted flames from the garda car onto the piece of rubbish and she ran to the Dublin Bus". The court heard it had already been abandoned after being surrounded by rioters. Advertisement It was claimed that Ms Kelly ran onto the bus and threw the burning rubbish on the ground. TRIAL PLEA The accused wept as she pleaded to be freed pending the trial telling the court: "I have no intention of f****** this up". She spoke out saying she had suffered trauma at a young age, was living in a tent at the time of the riots, and there had been a family bereavement while she was in custody. Judge Finan decided to reduce the surety to €1,000 and emphasised that if taken up, she must obey conditions set earlier: reside at Kilbride Grove, Bray, Co Wicklow, obey an 11pm to 6am curfew, sign on daily at the local Garda station, and remain contactable by phone. Advertisement The charge under Section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act carries a possible 10-year sentence and a €10,000 fine. Ms Kelly was granted legal aid and told she must notify prosecutors if she intends to use an alibi in her defence. gardaí were also directed to hand over interview videos to the defence. To date, 85 people have been arrested in connection with the Dublin riots, with 66 charged. Meanwhile, a man awaits trial accused of attempted murder of three children earlier that day at Parnell Square in the city centre. Advertisement 1 A woman accused of 'solely' setting fire to a Dublin Bus has been sent forward for trial Credit: PA
Sunday World
14-05-2025
- Sunday World
Woman (34) accused of torching bus in Dublin riots granted bail
Leanne Kelly (34) 'completely destroyed' the bus, at a cost of €477,000, during the November 2023 riot in the city centre A woman accused of torching a Dublin bus during the November 2023 riot in the city centre has been granted bail. Leanne Kelly (34) 'completely destroyed' the bus, at a cost of €477,000 when she got on board and used a piece of burning rubbish to set it alight, it is alleged. The incident happened during street violence that erupted in central Dublin after three children and a woman were injured in a knife attack. Ms Kelly first appeared in Dublin District Court last week, when a bail application was adjourned. Dublin riots. News in 90 Seconds - May 14th Today, Judge Michele Finan set bail in Ms Kelly's own bond of €300, with a €3,000 independent surety, to be approved by the court. Under conditions, she must live at an address at Kilbride Grove, Bray, Co Wicklow, sign on daily at Bray garda station and provide a contact number to gardai. The accused was remanded in custody with consent to bail, to appear in court again on June 9, for the service of a book of evidence. Ms Kelly is charged with causing criminal damage to a Dublin bus at O'Connell Bridge on November 23, 2023. At last week's bail hearing, Detective Garda Barry Brennan said the incident happened at 7.30pm when the accused allegedly picked up a piece of rubbish and ran to a garda car that was already on fire. It was alleged she 'extracted' flames from the car onto the rubbish and ran to a Dublin bus that had been abandoned. Other rioters had surrounded the bus, attacked the driver and forced him off, the court heard. According to the prosecution, Ms Kelly ran through the middle doors and onto the bus where she threw the burning piece of rubbish onto the ground. This set the bus alight and it was completely destroyed, at a cost of €477, 851, Det Gda Brennan said. The entire incident was captured on CCTV and the accused identified herself in the footage, he said. He did not believe she would attend court if granted bail. Applying for bail, defence solicitor Niall O'Connor said his client presented in court as a 'very different lady' than on the footage. Ms Kelly is the latest person arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into what was one of the worst outbreaks of public disorder in the history of the state. More than 80 people have been arrested and more than 60 charged with offences including committing riot, arson, violent disorder, possession of weapons and theft. Several have already been convicted.
Irish Examiner
06-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Grandmother of boys abducted by her son appeals court ruling in attempt to keep boys in Egypt
The grandmother of two children from Ireland abducted by her son has appealed a ruling in the Egyptian courts in a bid to prevent her grandchildren being returned to their Irish mother. In March 2022, Mandy Kelly's two children Zayn, who will be seven this month, and Kareem, aged four, from Dundalk, Co Louth, visited their grandmother in Cairo on a family holiday which turned into a "living hell". During the trip, their father, Ramy Gamal Maamoun Mohamed, locked Ms Kelly in an apartment and abducted his two sons. Ms Kelly has not seen her children since. She fled back to Ireland where she has campaigned tirelessly for three years to have her children returned to her care. Both judiciaries in Ireland and Egypt have ruled the children should be returned to their mother. However, Ms Kelly's estranged husband cannot be located by police in Cairo to execute the court order. The children's paternal grandmother, who is supporting her son in rearing the boys, appealed to the courts to keep the children at a hearing in Cairo last month. Ms Kelly told the Irish Examiner she hopes for a final conclusion on the case by the summer. 'The judge insisted the school reports be made available to the courts for both children' she explained. 'My ex-mother-in-law did not attend the hearing, and she was represented by her Egyptian lawyers. 'I would also be interested in seeing my children's school reports' she added. "But what is more shocking is that she can appeal a case without attending". Ms Kelly added she was 'hopeful' the appeal would not be successful and the children would be safely returned home. 'It's three years now since they were taken and I have not seen them and I will never be able to explain what this has done to me let alone what it has done to my sons' she said. 'I have also been informed that prior to my travels to Egypt that the Tánaiste Simon Harris wrote again to his Egyptian counterparts for this case to be concluded — that is something I am very grateful for. 'I am expecting a letter from him in the upcoming days, and I can't thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and those Government ministers and politicians who have lobbied to help get my boy's home," Ms Kelly said. 'It is a long time to be away from your children and despite two court rulings in my favour and following the Egyptian legal process, I am still waiting for Zayn and Kareem to come home.' Read More Interpol posts yellow missing persons alert over Irish woman's children being held in Egypt
BBC News
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Watford singer stars in short film about her cancer journey
A rock signer who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 24 has starred in a short film and performed alongside James Arthur as part of a fundraising gig. Grace Kelly, from Watford, was diagnosed with leukaemia when she noticed a rash that would not disappear. "It wasn't until I was getting towards the end of my treatment that I started writing again," she said. Ms Kelly, who is part of the alternative rock band VENUS GRRRLS, performed with her band at the Teenage Cancer Trust gigs on Wednesday. In March 2022, Grace Kelly visited the GP multiple times with symptoms of a sore throat and rash. In the July she was referred for a bone marrow biopsy and was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. Talking about when she was diagnosed, she said: "I zoned out and felt like I couldn't hear.""My parents were in the waiting room, and it killed me to tell them. I felt like I had let them down," she added. "Our second or third single came out in the midst of all of my tests, so it was a very strange time."On Wednesday, Ms Kelly and her band performed alongside James Arthur as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust gigs. Founded by The Who's Roger Daltrey in 2000, artists performed at the Royal Albert Hall across multiple dates, including members of The Sex Pistols as headliners. She also shared her story by starring in a short film, shown at the gig, about her experiences with the film was played before the headliner's performance, and featured Ms Kelly, her partner Jack, and best friend and bandmate Hannah. During the film, Ms Kelly pays tribute to Teenage Cancer Trust and all the staff at the charity's finishing her treatment in March 2023, she has performed with the band at Reading and Leeds Festival. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
