Nicky Kelly
Encyclopedia
Nicky Kelly is an Irish politician from Arklow
in County Wicklow
. In the 1980s he achieved fame throughout Ireland after he had been sentenced, in 1978, to 12 years in prison for his alleged part in the Sallins
train robbery
. The ensuing campaign to release him became a symbol of the 1980s with 'Free Nicky Kelly' graffiti posted throughout the country. The evidence of torture committed against him and his two co-accused, Osgur Breatnach and Brian McNally, galvanized a campaign for his release. There was a dedication to him in the 1983 Planxty
album, Words and Music.
The future Workers' Party
TD, Justice Pat McCartan
acted as his solicitor at this time, despite being on opposite sides in the Official Sinn Féin/IRSP split.
In 1984 Kelly was eventually released on "humanitarian grounds". He received a presidential pardon in 1992, along with over £1 million as compensation following campaigns by Amnesty
and the ICCL
.
He was born Edward Noel Kelly from Graiguenamanagh
, County Kilkenny
, he joined Official Sinn Féin leaving it to join the new Irish Republican Socialist Party
in 1974.
Kelly was elected to Arklow Town Council in 1991 and for Wicklow County Council
in 1999. in 2001 he joined the Labour party.
In 2008 he was elected mayor of Arklow
.
He stood unsuccessfully as a Labour party candidate for the Wicklow
constituency in the 2002 general election
where he was beaten to the final seat by Mildred Fox
by 19 votes, and in the 2007 general election, where his first preference vote declined from 12% in 2002 to 6%. In early 2011, he left the Labour Party over a dispute about candidate selection at the party's convention. Despite rumours that he was intending on joining Sinn Féin
or the United Left Alliance
he stood at the 2011 general election as an Independent candidate in the Wicklow constituency. He was not elected polling only 0.7% of the poll.
Arklow
Arklow , also known as Inbhear Dé from the Avonmore river's older name Abhainn Dé, is a historic town located in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. Founded by the Vikings in the ninth century, Arklow was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 rebellion...
in County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. In the 1980s he achieved fame throughout Ireland after he had been sentenced, in 1978, to 12 years in prison for his alleged part in the Sallins
Sallins
Sallins is a suburban town in County Kildare, Ireland, situated 3.5 km north of the town centre of Naas, from which it is separated by the M7 motorway. Sallins is the anglicised name of Na Solláin which means "The Willows"....
train robbery
Sallins Train Robbery
The Sallins Train Robbery occurred on 31 March 1976 when the Cork to Dublin mail train was robbed near Sallins in County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. Approximately IR£ 200,000 was stolen...
. The ensuing campaign to release him became a symbol of the 1980s with 'Free Nicky Kelly' graffiti posted throughout the country. The evidence of torture committed against him and his two co-accused, Osgur Breatnach and Brian McNally, galvanized a campaign for his release. There was a dedication to him in the 1983 Planxty
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
album, Words and Music.
The future Workers' Party
Workers' Party of Ireland
The Workers' Party is a left-wing republican political party in Ireland. Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970 after a split within the party, adopting its current name in 1982....
TD, Justice Pat McCartan
Pat McCartan
Pat McCartan is an Irish Circuit Court judge and a former politician. A native of Wexford he was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election as a Workers' Party Teachta Dála for the Dublin North East constituency...
acted as his solicitor at this time, despite being on opposite sides in the Official Sinn Féin/IRSP split.
In 1984 Kelly was eventually released on "humanitarian grounds". He received a presidential pardon in 1992, along with over £1 million as compensation following campaigns by Amnesty
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
and the ICCL
Irish Council for Civil Liberties
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is an Irish non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the civil liberties and human rights of people in Ireland.-History:...
.
He was born Edward Noel Kelly from Graiguenamanagh
Graiguenamanagh
-Recreation:Walking and hillclimbing are among the more popular pursuits of Graiguenamanagh area and with the South Leinster Way meandering through the lovely Barrrow Valley and traversing nearby Brandon Hill, scope is provided for the a gentle stroll or a vigorous,day-long hike. The Barrow's...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, he joined Official Sinn Féin leaving it to join the new Irish Republican Socialist Party
Irish Republican Socialist Party
The Irish Republican Socialist Party or IRSP is a republican socialist party active in Ireland. It claims the legacy of socialist revolutionary James Connolly, who founded the Irish Socialist Republican Party in 1896 and was executed after the Easter Rising of 1916.- History :The Irish Republican...
in 1974.
Kelly was elected to Arklow Town Council in 1991 and for Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Wicklow in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
in 1999. in 2001 he joined the Labour party.
In 2008 he was elected mayor of Arklow
Arklow
Arklow , also known as Inbhear Dé from the Avonmore river's older name Abhainn Dé, is a historic town located in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. Founded by the Vikings in the ninth century, Arklow was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 rebellion...
.
He stood unsuccessfully as a Labour party candidate for the Wicklow
Wicklow (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Wicklow is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
constituency in the 2002 general election
Irish general election, 2002
The Irish general election of 2002 was held on Friday, 17 May 2002 just over three weeks after the dissolution of the 28th Dáil on Thursday 25 April by President Mary McAleese, at the request of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern...
where he was beaten to the final seat by Mildred Fox
Mildred Fox
Mildred Fox is a former Irish Independent politician. She was a Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency from 1995–2007....
by 19 votes, and in the 2007 general election, where his first preference vote declined from 12% in 2002 to 6%. In early 2011, he left the Labour Party over a dispute about candidate selection at the party's convention. Despite rumours that he was intending on joining Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
or the United Left Alliance
United Left Alliance
The United Left Alliance is an electoral alliance of left-wing political parties and independent politicians in the Republic of Ireland, formed to contest the 2011 general election...
he stood at the 2011 general election as an Independent candidate in the Wicklow constituency. He was not elected polling only 0.7% of the poll.