Court hears death of Ballyhaunis cyclist triggered brother’s depression

The brother of a Ballyhaunis man who died after being struck by a car revealed his death has triggered a relapse of his depression which has had an immense affect on him and his family.
Jarlath Kelly (47) of Derrynacong, Ballyhaunis, died on May 17, 2014 when he was struck by a car while cycling along the R293 at Classaghroe, Ballyhaunis. The car was driven by Jason Nolan (21) of Carrowbehy, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, who appeared before last week’s sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
He received a three-year suspended jail sentence and was disqualified from driving for four years.

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Mr Kelly, a single man, had lived all his life in his home in Ballyhaunis where he looked after his parents, who are now deceased.
In a victim impact statement which was read to the court, his only sibling, Brendan, explained how he and Jarlath were very close and how his death has had an immense affect on his life.
Brendan returned to live in Ireland in 2001 with his wife Julia and two young children, and he said that Jarlath helped build up the family farm while he worked in the construction industry.
He explained that Jarlath was there to look after all the needs of the farm and had a close relationship with his son Joseph.
Following the collapse of the construction industry, Brendan said his business suffered and he became depressed and sought counselling.
“Jarlath supported me throughout this time,” he told the court.
Brendan said that when he found work reclaiming land for farming for a man in Roscommon, Jarlath and his son, Joseph, looked after the running of the farm.
Before Jarlath’s death, Brendan said his health had ‘improved a lot’ and he was hopeful of reducing his medication. However, following the accident, his depression returned to such a degree that he suffers from nightmares and his medication has been doubled. He lost his job and is unable to look after the farm, which he said is putting extra pressure on his 17-year-old son Joseph.
His wife, Julia, said in her victim impact statement that her husband’s health has gradually  worsened and she is also worried for her son, Joseph, who she said was very close to Jarlath.
She explained her son feels he has to carry the extra workload on the farm and at times lacks motivation and is unable to get out of bed.

Compassion
In an act which Judge Rory Mac Cabe described as an example of extraordinary humanity, Mrs Kelly said her thoughts go out to the family of James Nolan. The Kelly family met with Mr Nolan at the time of the funeral, accepted his apology and also expressed concern for what he was going through.
Garda Ann Marie McHale told the court that at 11.34am on the day of the accident, Mr Kelly was cycling when Mr Nolan drove behind him.
A witness who was driving in the opposite direction stated that there was not enough room for the two cars to pass by and the car driven by Mr Nolan hit the bicycle, throwing Mr Kelly into a field. He was pronounced dead at 12.25pm.
Under questioning from Mr Michael Bowman, SC for Mr Nolan, Garda McHale confirmed that the defendant had no previous convictions and came from a ‘decent hardworking family’.
She said that speed was a factor in the collision but accepted that witnesses who came across Mr Nolan before the accident did not recall him driving aggressively.
Mr Bowman said the compassion and humanity the Kelly family had shown to his client, not withstanding their tragic loss, spoke volumes for them.
He said Mr Nolan accepted total responsibility for the accident and will have to live with the knowledge he took the life of a person who was deeply loved by his family and the community.
Judge MacCabe expressed his sympathies to the Kelly family adding that what happened could happen to any of us. He said the effect of Mr Kelly’s death was clearly set out in the victim impact statements, and were not exaggerated or written in self-pity. “There were no winners, only losers,” he commented.
In sentencing Mr Nolan, Judge MacCabe said he did not see any aggravating factors in this case, and taking into account his early plea and lack previous convictions, he sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment, with the entirety of the sentence suspended for three years.