Man wrongfully convicted of iconic Sallins train robbery speaks out on 40th anniversary of arrest

The man who was once the centre of man a conversation throughout the country has been speaking out on the 40th anniversary of his wrongful imprisonment.

Nicky Kelly, a native of Arklow, was arrested on 5 April 1976 in connection with the robbery of a mail train in Sallins that same year. The train was held up by a crew of 17 people at the Sallins train station on 31 March 1976, and a sum of £200,000 was taken in the raid. The IRA would later claim responsibility for the robbery on two separate occasions, but Kelly spent four years in jail for a crime he had absolutely no part in.

The Wicklow native was brutally beaten by Gardaí when he was arrested 40 years ago, and that ultimately led to him confessing to being involved in a bid to prevent any further physical abuse. Kelly fled to the US, and the was sentenced to 12 years' penal servitude during his absence, and failed to return to Ireland until 1980.

Upon hearing that the other two men who were wrongfully arrested- Osgur Breathnach and Brian McNally- were released on appeal, Kelly returned home from New York to fight his conviction. He was arrested upon his arrival at Shannon Airport and thrown into Portlaoise Prison where he undertook a 37 day hunger strike. That was a last resort after many appeals had failed, but under the growing pressure of international spotlight, the then Minister for Justice Michael Noonan released Kelly on humanitarian grounds.

The 'Free Nicky Kelly' campaign that involved people such as Christy Moore, civil rights groups and county councils had won, but Kelly has suffered the repercussions to his physical and mental health ever since.

Speaking in today's Irish Times, the 65-year-old explained that he suffers from constant headaches and also suffered a heart-attack a number of years ago.

He lives in Dublin now, and regularly attends St Vincent's Hospital and Beaumont Hospital for neurological treatment.

"In the end of the day the squad that was there was set up... They were carrying out instructions," Kelly said when asked about the Gardaí who brutally beat him until he gave a confession to them.

He holds more contempt towards the Special Criminal Court, branding it a waste of money and 'unconstitutional'.

Asked what makes him frustrated about the ordeal he went through, Kelly responded; "When I was lying in a hospital bed listening to the debate about the Special Criminal Court during the General Election campaign".