Thomas Kelly’s family targeted in hate campaign

RALPH and Kathy Kelly thought they’d seen the worst of human nature when their son was killed in a one-punch attack. But that wasn’t the end.

THE grieving parents of one-punch murder victim Thomas Kelly have become the targets of an apparent hate campaign over Sydney’s lockout laws, which they championed to prevent similar tragedies.

Ralph and Kathy Kelly have received a barrage of online threats and their son’s makeshift memorial has been trashed twice within a matter of days.

News.com.au understands the couple’s website for their Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation, established in honour of their son, has been hacked and is now locked after the couple received “vile threats” in relation to the NSW lockout laws.

Ralph, the director and sole employee of the foundation, has reportedly received additional threats after it was revealed he was paid 51 per cent of the charity’s annual revenue of $243,373 with the full support of the board of directors.

Ralph said the figures did not reflect more than half a million dollars paid to the Salvation Army by charity sponsors to run the charity’s cornerstone program. News.com.au does not suggest Ralph did anything wrong.

Ralph and Kathy Kelly have received a barrage of online threats and their son’s makeshift memorial has been trashed twice within a matter of days.

The foundation was launched to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence, “get kids home safely” and ensure no others suffer the same fate as Thomas, who was punched dead in a random and unprovoked attack by Kieran Loveridge in 2012.

Thomas’ death provided the impetus for the laws that have seen a 32 per cent reduction in assaults in Kings Cross since they were introduced in 2014.

But the debate over the laws has recently heated up with more than 15,000 protesters turning out to the Keep Sydney Open rally last month to oppose the legislation.

They claim the laws are restricting personal liberties, destroying Sydney’s night-life and threatening businesses and jobs in the music and hospitality industries.

The Kellys have recently been targeted by online trolls who identify themselves as rogue anti-lock-out protesters.

The sickening comments aimed at the family on their organisation’s Facebook page were “extreme enough to prompt Ralph to seek legal advice”, a source said.

The posts have since been removed.

In a further blow to the Kellys, an unofficial memorial for Thomas and Daniel Christie, who were killed in separate one punch attacks in Kings Cross, has been desecrated twice last weekend.

The makeshift tribute featuring flowers, photos and messages on a light pole in Victoria St, Potts Point is close to the spot both teenagers were attacked.

A makeshift memorial for one punch victims Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie has been repeatedly vandalised.

Kings Cross locals restored the memorial after it was vandalised on Friday but it was again torn down on Sunday in what supporters said was a targeted attack.

“The Lock out laws have nothing to do with these two young lives, who were taken so young, for no reason,” Ralph and Kathy Kelly wrote in a statement over the weekend.

“To the person or people who did this, you have no shame.”

The Kelly family has urged Premier Mike Baird to maintain the restrictions to prevent further tragedies.

“Our family has spent three years of our lives working every single day to try to do our small part to stop violence on our streets,” a statement read.

“Over the last two years there has been only three admissions to St. Vincent’s for ‘severe brain injury’ caused through violence.

“We have been victimised, threatened and now a legacy to two beautiful boys destroyed. To the haters — we won’t give up. Every family has a right for their sons and daughters to get home safely.”

Thomas Kelly was killed in a random and unprovoked one punch attack in Kings Cross in 2012.

Media personality and long-term Kings Cross resident Geoff Field said he was appalled by the behaviour of those who destroyed the young men’s memorial.

“This is not about whether you’re for or against lockouts, it’s about decency,” Field said.

“Whoever did that is just heartless, it’s a low act.”

Field said the repeated destruction of the memorial over a short period of time suggested it was a “concerted attack”.

“I don’t want to blame people against lockouts because a lot of people who are against them have good intentions, and people have lost their jobs,” he said.

“There’s a lot of good people on both sides of the argument.

“But there are a lot of angry people ... (and) it’s a coincidence that we never had a problem when the memorial went up two years ago but now that debate has flared (the problem has started), it makes you wonder.”

“If you disagree with the lockouts there are other ways of expressing your opinion.”

A NSW Police spokesman told news.com.au no arrests had been made in relation to vandalism at the Kings Cross memorial.

“There was damage to the (site), it’s not an official memorial, but we take all reports of malicious damage or criminal conduct seriously,” he said.

Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the area and urge anyone with information relating to the matter to contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or Kings Cross Police.

The memorial at Kings Cross, close to where both Daniel and Thomas were murdered, was vandalised during the week, ...

Posted by Thomas Kelly - Youth Foundation on Sunday, February 28, 2016

Yesterday the memorial to Daniel and Thomas was desecrated.The Lock out laws have nothing to do with these two young...

Posted by Thomas Kelly - Youth Foundation on Saturday, February 27, 2016