John Kelly Dies Following Long Illness
John Kelly, a leading Bloody Sunday campaigner who fought for five decades after his teenage brother was killed by British paratroopers, has died following a long battle with illness. Tributes poured in for the leading Bloody Sunday advocate, who passed away on Saturday morning.
Mr Kelly’s brother, Michael, was 17 years old and unarmed when he was shot dead in Derry’s Bogside on January 30, 1972. John Kelly stood witness to the violence that day, carrying his brother’s body to an ambulance. That tragedy shaped the rest of his life, turning a toolmaker by trade into a tireless petitioner for state accountability.
Founding the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign
In 1992, on the twentieth anniversary of his brother’s death, Mr Kelly founded the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign. He later helped establish the Bloody Sunday Trust in 1996 and worked closely with the Museum of Free Derry until his retirement in August 2024. Throughout the arduous legal battles and the lengthy Saville Inquiry, he acted as a family liaison officer, offering guidance and support to other bereaved relatives across Ireland.
Tony Doherty, chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Trust and a long-time friend, described the loss to the community. I have lost a great friend. We have all lost a great friend,
Mr Doherty said. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill praised his remarkable courage in taking on the British state, noting that he never gave up despite continued denials of justice.
Funeral Cortege Scheduled for Monday Morning
Public figures across the political spectrum offered condolences as news of his death spread across Derry and beyond. Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said that Mr Kelly was a familiar face who carried himself with the quiet dignity of someone certain in his cause. Mary Lou McDonald remembered him as a powerful and unwavering voice for the families.
John Kelly , Chair of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign, died peacefully in the early hours after a long illness. He will be remembered with great love and pride in his home town of Derry, throughout Ireland and abroad. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann. pic.twitter.com/7duenlzdhl
Mr Kelly’s funeral cortege will leave his home on Monday, November 9, at 9:20 a.m. for St Mary’s Church, Creggan, where a requiem mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Family members requested family flowers only, with donations directed to Foyle Hospice or City Friends of Marie Curie.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Life and Legacy of John Kelly
Who was John Kelly and why is he well-known?
John Kelly was a leading civil rights campaigner in Northern Ireland who spent over fifty years demanding truth and justice after his 17-year-old brother, Michael, was shot and killed by British paratroopers during Bloody Sunday in January 1972.
What organizations did John Kelly help establish?
He founded the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign in 1992 and was a central figure in the Bloody Sunday Trust formed in 1996. He also spent nearly two decades working with the Museum of Free Derry until his retirement in August 2024.
When and where is the funeral taking place?
His funeral cortege leaves his home on Monday, November 9, at 9:20 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. requiem mass at St Mary’s Church, Creggan.
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