Killing of Patrick Kelly

Patrick Kelly (1948 – 16 December 1983), was a private in the Irish Defense Forces killed during the rescue of kidnapped supermarket executive Don Tidey.

Family life

Patrick Kelly was a native of Moate, County Westmeath. He was married and a father of four sons, ranging in ages from nine years to eleven weeks at the time of his death.

Death

In December 1983, Kelly was killed in the line of duty along with trainee Garda Síochána Gary Sheehan while both were involved in the rescue of Don Tidey, at Derrada Wood, Ballinamore, County Leitrim.

Justice campaign

In 2008, Brendan "Bik" McFarlane was charged with the false imprisonment of Tidey. The trial collapsed after incriminating statements he allegedly made following his arrest were ruled inadmissible. No-one was ever convicted of the soldier's killing.

During the 2011 Irish presidential election Kelly's eldest son, David, confronted Sinn Féin candidate and former IRA commander, Martin McGuinness. McGuinness denied knowing the killers or that he was a member of the IRA Army Council at the time. Kelly called him a liar, saying that before there could be any reconciliation, there had to be truth, and "I want truth today. Murder is murder. I want justice for my father." He later described McGuinness' presidential bid as an "obscenity, because his organisation killed members of the security forces... I feel sympathy for all people who were killed by the Provisional IRA over the years - Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in Limerick and all the other people." McGuinness later responded, stating that "As a republican leader I have never and would never stand over attacks on the Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces." However, he refused to condemn the killings of Kelly and Sheehan.

Patrick Kelly (fiddler)

Patrick Kelly (1905–1976) was an Irish fiddle-player and -teacher.

Kelly was born in Cree, County Clare, and learned to play when he was young. His youth were the heyday of the American Wakes and the house dances. His style was influenced by the Kerry fiddler George Whelan (also the mentor of his father) and Danny Mescal. Both acted as his teachers and mentors.

Style

Patrick Kelly specialized in music set in 12/8 pieces. While teaching in Cree and surroundings, he also passed on the Foxhunters Reel.

Characteristic of Kelly was the tuning of his fiddle in AEAE, so he could use droning and double stopping.

Personal

Patrick Kelly was the only child of Tim Kelly and Maria Killeen (1863–1951).

Around 1930, Kelly married Margaret "Dilly" Golden from Cree. They had seven children.

Discography

Patrick Kelly (footballer)

Patrick Michael Kelly (9 April 1918 – 1985) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his career with Barnsley and making one international appearance for Ireland.

Football career

Kelly was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and played his youth football with the Pirates club in Bloemfontein before moving to Scotland to join Aberdeen.

At the end of the Second World War he joined Barnsley of the Football League Second Division where he was to remain for the next six years, making over 150 appearances.

Kelly made his solitary international appearance in a World Cup qualifier against Scotland on 1 October 1949; another international débutante in that match was his Barnsley team-mate, Danny Blanchflower. With just over half an hour played, the Scots were five goals up and although the Irish managed to score twice in the second half (through Sammy Smyth), the final score was 8–2 to Scotland. Kelly was never selected for Northern Ireland again, with his namesake, Hugh Kelly of Fulham replacing him, only to concede nine goals against England in the next match.

Patrick Kelly (former RCMP officer)

Patrick Kelly is a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police undercover agent and convicted murderer. He was an officer in Toronto's drug squad based in Toronto at the Toronto RCMP Building in the early 1970s.

Murder of Jeannette Kelly

In 1984, Kelly was convicted of the first-degree murder of his wife Jeannette Kelly by throwing her from the 17th floor balcony of The Palace Pier highrise on Sunday, March 29, 1981, in Toronto, Canada. He stated to police that he had seen his wife on the balcony, reaching out over the rail to investigate a rattle. Kelly testified she then slipped and fell to her death. At Kelly's trial, the Crown had evidence that he was working with organized crime, namely Money Laundering. The prosecution experts testified that the great distance between the edifice and the location of Mrs. Kelly's body could have only occurred if she was strongly pushed.

Arrest and parole

Kelly was arrested for his wife's murder on March 2, 1983. His trial began in April 1984. He was convicted by a jury and was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years. The trial was covered extensively by Ontario and Canadian national news outlets. He was imprisoned at the federal inmate intake unit at Millhaven Institution for several years as a security precaution due to his past as an RCMP officer. He was eventually transferred to William Head Institution on Vancouver Island in British Columbia.