John Kelly, a campaigner for justice for the victims of Bloody Sunday, has died. His brother Michael was among 13 people killed when the Army's Parachute Regiment opened fire on a civil rights march in Londonderry in 1972.
Tony Doherty, chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said Kelly died peacefully in the early hours after a long illness and would be remembered with great love and pride in his home town of Derry, throughout Ireland and abroad.
Thirteen people were shot dead when the Army's Parachute Regiment opened fire on a civil rights march in Londonderry in 1972, an event widely regarded as one of the darkest days of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Kelly spent decades campaigning for truth and justice.
Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said it was a very sad day for Derry and described Kelly as "a man of quiet dignity who carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew he was just in his cause". He said Kelly repeatedly faced down the might of the British establishment and refused to allow the truth about Bloody Sunday to be buried.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she was "deeply saddened" and added that for more than five decades Kelly had fought for justice, not just for his own family but for all those killed and injured. "Despite the continued denial of justice, John never gave up," she said. "His courage and determination in taking on the British state in the fight for justice was remarkable."
Kelly worked with the Bloody Sunday Trust since its inception in 1997. He was honoured with a civic reception in 2024 after retiring from the trust and the Museum of Free Derry. The board and staff of the Bloody Sunday Trust and Museum of Free Derry said they were “devastated at the passing of our dear friend” and that his personal knowledge and the way he told his story were at the heart of the museum’s mission and vital to its development.
In October 2025, after the trial of a Soldier F, Kelly said he relived every moment of Bloody Sunday.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The death of John Kelly removes a central figure from the ongoing struggle for accountability over one of the deadliest events of the Troubles.
- His work at the Museum of Free Derry ensured that the stories of the victims and the campaign for justice were preserved for future generations.
- The tributes from leading Northern Irish politicians across party lines underscore the lasting significance of his advocacy.
Background
Bloody Sunday occurred on 30 January 1972, when British paratroopers shot dead 13 unarmed civil rights demonstrators in Derry. The event deepened the conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles. After a long campaign by families, a public inquiry led to the Saville Report in 2010, which declared the killings unjustified. The only soldier to face prosecution, known as Soldier F, went on trial in 2025.
Key Perspectives
Tony Doherty: described Kelly's death as peaceful after a long illness and said he would be remembered with great love and pride.
Colum Eastwood: called it a very sad day for Derry and praised Kelly as a man of quiet dignity who refused to let the truth be buried.
Michelle O'Neill: expressed deep sadness and said Kelly's courage and determination were remarkable, and he never gave up despite denial of justice.
Bloody Sunday Trust and Museum of Free Derry: said they were devastated and that Kelly's personal knowledge was vital to the museum.
What to Watch
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedJohn Kelly, a Bloody Sunday campaigner, has died.BBC Northern Ireland: “Tributes have been paid to Bloody Sunday campaigner John Kelly who has died.”
- SupportedMichelle O’Neill said Kelly had fought for justice for more than five decades.BBC Northern Ireland: “First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she was "deeply saddened" and added that for "more than five decades" Kelly had "fought for justice, not just for his own family but for all those killed and injured" on Bloody Sunday.”
- SupportedKelly’s brother Michael was killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972.BBC Northern Ireland: “His brother, Michael, was killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972”
- SupportedThirteen people were shot dead when the Army’s Parachute Regiment opened fire on a civil rights march in Londonderry.BBC Northern Ireland: “Thirteen people were shot dead when the Army's Parachute Regiment opened fire on a civil rights march in Londonderry.”
- SupportedTony Doherty said Kelly died peacefully in the early hours after a long illness.BBC Northern Ireland: “Chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Trust Tony Doherty said John Kelly "died peacefully in the early hours after a long illness,"”
- SupportedDoherty said Kelly would be remembered with great love and pride in Derry, throughout Ireland and abroad.BBC Northern Ireland: “adding that he would be "remembered with great love and pride in his home town of Derry, throughout Ireland and abroad".”
- Partly supportedEastwood described Kelly as “a man of quiet dignity who carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew he was just in his cause”.BBC Northern Ireland: “Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said it was a "very sad day for Derry" and that Kelly was "man of quiet dignity who carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew he was just in his cause".”
- SupportedEastwood said Kelly repeatedly faced down the British establishment and refused to let the truth about Bloody Sunday be buried.BBC Northern Ireland: “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.”
- SupportedO’Neill said she was “deeply saddened”.BBC Northern Ireland: “First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she was "deeply saddened"”
- SupportedO’Neill said Kelly never gave up despite the continued denial of justice.BBC Northern Ireland: “"Despite the continued denial of justice, John never gave up," she said.”
- SupportedKelly had worked with the Bloody Sunday Trust since its inception in 1997.BBC Northern Ireland: “He had worked with the trust since its inception in 1997.”
- SupportedKelly was honoured with a civic reception in 2024 after retiring from the Bloody Sunday Trust and Museum of Free Derry.BBC Northern Ireland: “Kelly was honoured in 2024 with a civic reception after he retired from the Bloody Sunday Trust and Museum of Free Derry.”