Sadness across Derry at death of John Kelly, chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign.

Tony Doherty, chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said John had “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,” added Mr Doherty.

“Ní bheídh a leith arís ann.”

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, comrade and colleague John Kelly”.

“John passed away this morning, November 7, after a long battle with illness

“John was born in Creggan in 1949, the son of Kathleen and John Kelly, and into a family that would eventually become twelve children, nine sisters and three brothers.

“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.

“John’s younger brother Michael, just seventeen years of age, was the youngest of the fourteen men and boys murdered on Bloody Sunday. John was there himself that day, witnessing much of the violence, and carried the body of his own brother to an ambulance and accompanied him to the hospital, where he was declared dead.

“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 started with us as 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 eighteen years educating people about Bloody Sunday and the years around it.

“His personal knowledge, and the way he told his story, was at the heart of the mission of the museum, and was vital in helping the museum develop in the successful way that it did. For visitors, getting to hear John tell his own deeply personal story of Bloody Sunday and the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign, which he chaired from its foundation, was the highlight of their visit for many of the museum visitors he spoke to.”

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 granchildren, 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.”

Extending it’s sympathy to John’s family, friends and colleagues, Relatives 4 Justice, which supports conflict bereaved and injured, said: “Words are inadequate to express our deep sorrow to hear the news.

“John was a mighty oak of love, respect, courage, compassion and integrity.

“He spoke truth to power with humility and a salient strength that gave courage to so many.

“Relatives for Justice extends our sincere condolences to John’s family, friends and colleagues on the path of truth and justice.

“Go ndéana Dia Trócaire as a anam.”

Paying tribute to John, Colin Harvey, Professor of Human Rights Law in the School of Law, Queen's University Belfast, said: “Heartbreaking news this morning.

“John never relented in his struggle for truth and justice.

“An inspiration to the people of Ireland with a message of hope for our world.

“My sympathy and thoughts today with John’s family and friends.”

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood described John as a “dogged campaigner”.

“So sad to hear this news this morning. John was a warm and decent man. A dogged campaigner. He stayed the course and did his brother Michael proud.”

John retired in August 2024 following 30 years with the Bloody Sunday Trust and almost two decades with the Museum of Free Derry.

His campaign for justice for his brother Michael, who was aged 17 when he was shot dead by British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday, dated back to the early 1970s and the immediate aftermath of the atrocity.

On that occasion, a spokesperson for the Museum of Free Derry said: “John has been central to our work for so many years, providing a guiding voice in the creation of the museum, and always ensuring that it truly reflected the voices of those whose stories it was set up to tell.

"The museum is a better place because of his involvement, and he will never really leave it as his influence is embedded into the very fabric of the building and his voice will always be heard through the many displays he helped create.”

John was one of the founders of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign in 1992, on the 20th anniversary of Bloody Sunday when British paratroopers gunned down 14 innocent anti-internment demonstrators.

John’s brother Michael, from Dunmore Gardens and a family of nine sisters and two brothers, had been attending his first civil rights march when he was shot dead, alongside John Young (17), William Nash (19) and Michael McDaid (20), at a rubble barricade near the entrance to Glenfada Park on Rossville Street on Bloody Sunday.

Adding to the tributes being paid to John, John Teggart on behalf of the Ballymurphy families said: “It is with deep sadness we hear that our good friend John Kelly has died - a tireless campaigner for truth and justice.

“John led the way for all victims campaigners, he was an inspiration to us all.

“John was always a friend of the Ballymurphy masscre families just a phone call away for advice and support throughout the decades of campaigning.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his Family and his many friends.

“Always proudly and fondly remembered by all in Ballymurphy. Rest easy my friend.”

Remembering John, The 4 Days in Derry company, which brought the stories of the women impacted by Bloody Sunday to the stage with John’s help and encouragement said: “We are very saddened to hear that John Kelly, a tireless campaigner for truth and justice for his brother Michael and all the victims of Bloody Sunday, has died,

“Condolences to John’s family at this very sad time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”

Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy expressed his deepest condolences on the passing of John Kelly.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Kelly,” he 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.

“My thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with John’s children, grandchildren and the wider Kelly family circle at this very difficult time.

“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.

“Through his campaigning and his outreach role within the Museum of Free Derry, John taught my generation what it means to stand up for justice.“To be a champion for equality. To never give up, no matter how big the obstacle.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”