John Kelly 'epitomised the Derry spirit'
Numerous tributes have been paid to Bloody Sunday campaigner John Kelly following his passing as books of Condolence were opened at Museum of Free Derry.
The board and staff of the Bloody Sunday Trust and Museum of Free Derry spoke of their devastation at the passing of “our dear friend, comrade and colleague”.
Mr Kelly passed away peacefully at his Westway home on Saturday morning after a long battle with illness.
A former Chair of The Bloody Sunday Campaign, and Honorary Chair of The Bloody Sunday Trust, Mr Kelly was a prominent spokespeople for the families of those killed on Bloody Sunday. His brother Michael, aged just 17, was among those murdered in the Bogside area of the city on January 30, 1972.
John was born in Creggan in 1948, the son of Kathleen and John Kelly. In August 1969 John married the late Margaret, and in their 52 years of marriage they had six sons, John, Michael, Emmet, Mark, Niall and Martin.
A toolmaker by trade, John worked for the Bloody Sunday Trust, and then the Museum of Free Derry, from 1997 until his retirement in 2024.
He was a Family Liaison Officer, helping the Bloody Sunday families through the many years of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, and then moved on to the Museum of Free Derry when it opened in 2006 as Education and Outreach Officer, spending the next 18 years educating people about Bloody Sunday and the years around it.
Tony Doherty, chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Trust, and long-time friend and fellow campaigner with John, said: “I have lost a great friend. We have all lost a great friend. It is such sad time for all of us who campaigned for justice for Bloody Sunday, who fought for our loved ones for so many years.
“John was at the forefront of that fight, from the beginning to the end, a calm, supportive and determined man who never let go of the idea of getting justice for his brother Michael, and for all of those murdered and wounded on Bloody Sunday. The images of John on 15 June 2010, fist raised in the air in celebration of the release of the report that vindicated our campaign, will always be among my most cherished memories of that great day.
“John was always there for other campaigns and families as well, and I am sure they are all as saddened as we are at his passing. John was always willing to share his experience with others, and many appreciated his good advice and support over the years of their struggles. Campaigners for justice across Ireland have lost an inspirational figure.
“John was at the centre of our work since the Bloody Sunday Trust was formed in 1996 and when the Museum of Free Derry was still just an idea. With great skill and generosity, he supported the Bloody Sunday families through the duration of the Saville Inquiry, and then moved to his role in the creation and growth of the museum. He taught many of our younger staff members in the museum, ensuring they shared and spread his values of truth and justice.
“The museum is a much better place because of his involvement, and he will never leave it. His voice will always echo around the displays, his influence will always be clear in how the museum tells our story, his memory will always be a part of what we are and where we go.
“We offer our deepest condolences to John’s family and friends, his sons and grandchildren, his sisters and brother. They have lost their father, grandfather and brother, we have lost our friend and comrade, but we have all been privileged to have known him and he has left a mark on all of us that we are all the better for.
“Rest in peace and power John, ní bheidh do leithéid arís ann.”
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said on Saturday that this was “a very sad day for Derry”.
“As one of the leading campaigners in the fight for justice for Bloody Sunday, his work and his determination were recognised and respected far beyond Derry.
“Along with the other Bloody Sunday families, John spent many years fighting for truth and justice, not just for his own family and those who lost loved ones on Bloody Sunday, but for the people of this city. He repeatedly faced down the might of the British establishment and refused to allow the truth about what happened on the streets of Derry in January 1972 to be buried. He did his brother Michael proud.”
Mr Eastwood added: “John was determined that the story of Bloody Sunday would never be forgotten. Through his work with the Bloody Sunday Trust and the Museum of Free Derry, he helped keep the memory of those who were killed alive and ensured that their stories continued to be told. He also used that experience to stand alongside others facing oppression around the world. His example will inspire others to carry that work forward.
“John was a man of quiet dignity who carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew he was just in his cause. Whether meeting governments and dignitaries or simply stopping for a chat on the street, he was always the same. His passing is a huge loss to Derry.”
Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy said “John epitomised the Derry spirit. He dedicated his life to challenging injustice and standing up for what was right, showing remarkable courage, dignity and resilience. “Through his tireless campaigning for truth and justice, he worked relentlessly to ensure that his brother Michael, and all those murdered and injured on Bloody Sunday, were finally declared innocent. “John’s life was dedicated to seeking justice and he will be remembered across Ireland and internationally as a man who challenged the status quo; as a man who took on the might of the British state and won.” “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”