Former kidnapper jailed for cocaine possession

A convicted kidnapper who was caught in possession of cocaine valued at £160,000 has been jailed for six years by Judge Patrick…

A convicted kidnapper who was caught in possession of cocaine valued at £160,000 has been jailed for six years by Judge Patrick MacCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Anthony Kelly (57), of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs with intent to supply after a jury had been sworn in for the trial of him and his wife for the second time.

His wife, Ms Julie Kelly (36), was not prosecuted in relation to the charges following the admission by her husband. Det Sgt Gregory Sheehan told Mr Luan O Braoinain, prosecuting, that Kelly was arrested at his home after members of the Garda National Drugs Unit were issued with a search warrant for the premises on September 2nd, 1998.

Kelly, with 15 previous convictions, was sentenced to 14 years in 1986 for the kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment of Ms Jennifer Guinness, wife of the chairman of the Guinness & Mahon bank in Dublin.