Sallins Train robbery: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Train robbery in Sallins, Ireland in 1976}}

On 31 March 1976, the [[Cork]] to [[Dublin]] mail train was robbed near Sallins in County [[Kildare]]. Approximately IR£200,000 was stolen. Four members of the IRSP ([[Irish Republican Socialist Party]]), Osgur Breatnach, [[Nicky Kelly]], Brian McNally and John Fitzpatrick were arrested in connection with the robbery.

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{{Use Irish English|date=December 2021}}

The '''Sallins Train robbery''' occurred in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] on 31 March 1976 when the [[Cork (city)|Cork]] to [[Dublin]] mail train was robbed near [[Sallins]] in [[County Kildare]]. Approximately [[Irish pound|£]]200,000 was stolen. Five members of the [[Irish Republican Socialist Party]] (IRSP), Osgur Breatnach, [[Nicky Kelly]], Brian McNally, Mick Plunkett and John Fitzpatrick, were arrested in connection with the robbery.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/the-drama-and-debacle-of-the-sallins-train-robbery-1.2161447|title=The drama and debacle of the Sallins train robbery|last=Murtagh|first=Peter|date=2015-10-02|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=2016-10-02|archive-date=2016-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005163046/http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/stage/the-drama-and-debacle-of-the-sallins-train-robbery-1.2161447|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the failure of the authorities to produce a [["book of evidence]]" against them, the four were released. However, Breatnach, Kelly and McNallybut were immediately rearrastedre-arrested. During interrogation in [[Garda Síochána]] custody, they all except Plunkett signed alleged confessions, presenting with extensive bruising and injuries they claimed were inflicted by members of the Gardaí.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GUweAQAACAAJ|title=While Justice Slept: The True Story of Nicky Kelly and the Sallins Train Robbery |first=Patsy|last=McGarry |date=15 December 2006|publisher=Liffey Press |isbn=978-1905785049 |___location=Ireland |via=Google Books}}</ref>

While awaiting trial, KellyFitzpatrick jumped [[bail]] and left the country. The Hetrial wasof triedMcNally, Kelly and Breatnach in the ([[inSpecial absentiaCriminal Court]]) alongbecame withthe Breatnachlongest-running andtrial McNallyin Irish criminal history, at 65 days, before it collapsed due to the non-jurydeath of one of the three judges, Judge John O'Connor of the [[Special CriminalCircuit Court]].<ref name=":1" />

Medical evidence of beatings was presented to the court, both during the initial trial and the second trial. The court rejected this evidence, finding that the beatings had been self-inflicted or inflicted by the co-accused. Anticipating a conviction, Kelly fled before the conclusion of the second trial. The three were found guilty, solely on the basis of their confessions, and sentenced to between nine and 12 years' prison (Kelly was sentenced ''[[trial in absentia|in absentia]]'').<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicola |last=Cooke |url=http://irishaires.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/all-of-ireland-to-vote-on-deal.html |title=Truth about Sallins robbery |newspaper=[[Sunday Business Post]] |date=15 October 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=Joe |last1=Joyce |first2=Peter |last2=Murtagh |title=Blind Justice |publisher=Poolbeg Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ATExAgAACAAJ&q=Joe+Joyce+and+Peter+Murtagh+Blind+Justice |year=1984|isbn=0-905169-64-6 }}

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In May 1980, Breatnach and McNally were acquitted on appeal on the grounds that their statements had been taken under duress. The same month, the [[Provisional IRA]] claimed responsibility for the robbery.<ref name=":0" /> Kelly returned to Ireland shortlyfrom afterwardsthe USA in June 1980, expecting to be acquitted. HoweverInstead he was incarcerated in the maximum-security [[Portlaoise Prison]] and spent the next four years proclaiming his innocence, including a 38-day period on [[hunger strike]].<ref name=":1" />

After campaignsa campaign by the [[Irish Council for Civil Liberties]] and, [[Amnesty International]] and others (including a song, "Wicklow Boy", by the popular folk singer [[Christy Moore]]), Kelly was eventually released on "humanitarian grounds" in 1984. He was given a presidential[[President of Ireland|Presidential]] [[pardon]] in 1992 and received £7501,000,000 in compensation.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/lifestyle/wrongly-jailed-for-train-heist-30662223.html|title=Wrongly jailed for train heist|date=2014-10-18|newspaper=Wicklow People |access-date=2016-10-02|archive-date=2016-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003102208/http://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/lifestyle/wrongly-jailed-for-train-heist-30662223.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Breatnach and McNally were also given compensation.<ref name=":0" />

==References==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Train robberies]]

[[Category:Rail transport in the Republic of Ireland]]

[[Category:History of County Kildare]]

[[Category:1976 crimes in the Republic of Ireland]]

[[Category:Police misconduct in Ireland]]

[[Category:Robberies in the Republic of Ireland]]

[[Category:Wrongful convictions]]

[[Category:March 1976 in Europe]]