Thomas Kelly

Normally my blog is a happy place but last Saturday night, a young man named Thomas Kelly was murdered.

He was just 18 years old.

On Saturday night he was invited to a colleague’s birthday party in a function room in Sydney’s Kings Cross.   Later that evening he was innocently walking down Victoria Street in Kings Cross holding his girlfriend’s hand while talking on his mobile phone when someone, for absolutely no reason, king hit him in the face.  He hit the ground hard.  He was rushed to the nearby St Vincent’s Hospital by ambulance.  His parents, living in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, received one of those phone calls every parent dreads.  They endured the 90 minute drive from Bowral to Sydney to find their son unconscious and on life-support.  On Monday night they had to make the harrowing decision of turning off their son’s life support as the damage was so extensive, nothing could be done to save their boy.


Thomas Kelly was educated at the same school as my Archie.  Thomas was in the year below Archie so they weren’t good mates but, with both boys being boarders, they knew each other well and kept in touch through facebook.  Tom only finished school at the end of last year.  He had his whole life in front of him and to think that some low-life degenerate could steal that from him in a senseless and unprovoked attack is stomach-turning.

Archie frequents Kings Cross and it always bothers me.  This Saturday night he has a gig at The Piano Room and very close to this venue is where Thomas Kelly was murdered.  Like Tom’s parents, my husband and I are always saying to Archie, ‘Be careful’ because Kings Cross doesn’t have a good reputation.

As can be seen from the video below, Thomas Kelly was a wonderful son, brother and mate whose parents seem like the most decent of all the world’s citizens.

Thomas Kelly on the ABC 7.30 Report

My sincerest condolences to Tom’s parents, Ralph and Kathy and to Tom’s sister, Madeleine and his brother, Stuart.

 

Comments

  1. Juliet Batten says:

    What a terrible tragedy, and it’s come so close to you and your family. I can understand your concerns for Archie.

  2. Henrietta says:

    Oh Charlie . So close to home. So senseless. Tragic. Sickening. I don’t understand anything anymore. Condolences to Tom’s parents. There really are no words . My heart goes out to all involved x

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Thanks Henri. Yes, it’s all of those things. So upsetting and I just feel for his family. How would you recover! xx

  3. Oh fricking hell this is awful. So awful. My brother and his friends were once attacked by another group of men in Canberra for no reason and with no provocation. I do not understand, I do not understand this world we live in sometimes. I’m so sorry.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      It just seems that you can be as careful as you like but that doesn’t mean to say you’re immune. It’s just awful xx

  4. Such a terrible terrible tragedy. You just can’t imagine what could be running through someone’s head to do that to another person. I hope they are tracked down if for no other reason than so they can’t hurt anyone every again.

    It’s just so awful to think that there are people like that out there.

    RIP Tom xx

  5. Rice Bowl Tales ( Jane ) says:

    This is so sad and senseless! My heart completely go out to this young man, his family and his girl friend. Just pray that they would find and draw the strength from somewhere to stay strong and carry on.
    Bringing up children needs so much dedication; involves both parents’ total love, care, effort and hope. Seeing their child growing up to become an young adult is the best reward to their mum and dad. To have all that taken away from them in such a cruel short time, I cannot even imagine the suffering they are going through …

  6. A_Boleyn says:

    What a tragic story of a waste of a young life that was full of possibilities. My condolences go out to this family and friends.

    http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/

  7. Glamorous Glutton says:

    How terrible for Thomas Kelly’s parents. Such a dreadful thing to happen and then to have to make that heart wrenching decision to stop life support. It makes me want to pull my boys to me and hug them. My condolences to his parents and his girlfriend. GG

  8. I saw this on the news. What a horrible thing to happen to a kid. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

    Definitely a tragic reminder to live every day well. Give Archie a hug from us all.

  9. Such an incredible tragedy – our deepest condolences to Tom’s family.

    Charlie, we both have sons the same age, and I share your concerns for our boys. May God always keep them safe. xx

  10. Eva Taylor says:

    Oh my goodness, that is so tragic, Charlie. So young. My heartfelt condolences to the family. JT went to school with a young lady who was raped and murdered in a reasonably safe suburb of Toronto about 35 years ago. It left the entire highschool in shock and in a daze, even though many didn’t know her well. They didn’t have grief councillors back then, hopefully Archie’s school does. To have this happen to someone, anyone you know, or are acquainted with pulls the rug out from beneath your feet. I hope they find the AH and throw him into jail for the rest of his sorry life.
    Eva http://kitcheninspirations.wordpress.com

    • hotlyspiced says:

      That’s such a tragic story Eva. That poor girl. What she went through and then what her family have had to live with after her senseless and cruel murder. It’s unbelievable what some families have to endure xx

  11. What a senseless tragedy, and I cry for this boy’s family. I pray too that they find the horrible person who struck him, if only so that the family can ask “why?” and find some closure.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Thanks so much Lisa. Yes, totally senseless and his poor family have so many painful days ahead. xx

  12. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:

    A lovely post Charlie and it was something that touched and horrified us all. I really hope that the person comes forward. Not knowing just compounds the already awful tragedy.

  13. Minnesota Prairie Roots says:

    The senselessness of it all…my sympathies to Tom’s family and friends and also to your family and community reeling from this horrible crime.

    Here in the states, in Wisconsin, a young father two days ago murdered his three young daughters. And we are all also reeling from this horrible crime.

    It matters not whether you know the victim or the family. In humanity, we grieve.

    Hugs to you and yours.

  14. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    What a tragedy. We live outside Chicago where there has been a rash of shootings this summer, mostly gang related, but bystanders as well. Minnesota Prairie Roots is right — it is senseless. So sorry to hear this; my heart goes out to his family.

  15. yummychunklet says:

    That sounds horrible. The details of walking innocently in an area on a cell phone harken back to a horrific killing of a teen here in the states (Trayvon Martin). Trayvon was in high school and educated, and the person who attacked him said he thought he saw a gun and shot Trayvon in self-defense. The only things found on Trayvon’s body were his cell phone and a bag of candies (Skittles). What’s worse is that Trayvon’s girlfriend was on the cell with him and heard the whole incident. These useless killings need to stop.

  16. Sorry to make your acquaintance at such a sad time for your family. Sometimes the world doesn’t make a bit of sense.

  17. Absolutely horrible. Every parents’ worst nightmare has come true for this poor family. I pray that they find his murderer and that justice will be done.

  18. I just finished watching the news report, Charlie, and I’m horrified and so saddened. Random acts of violence permeate our news airwaves, for sure, and I’m the friend to two sets of parents of murdered children. It’s hard to fathom sometimes. And the truth is that each time there is a story like this we as parents feel that clutch at our hearts, don’t we? I am so sorry for this family, and for you as well, as it impacts your lives through Archie. Will you please update us from time to time as we hopefully hear of someone coming forward with information on the attacker? Bless you today! oxoxo Debra

  19. Victoria at Flavors of the Sun says:

    Oh, Charlie, what a sad, tragic thing to happen. There is enough in life to worry about what with illnesses, accidents and the like–but murder? My heart and condolences go out to his surviving family. I don’t know how you ever make sense of life after something so pointless like this happens.

  20. My heart is broken for this family, this is so tragic. My deepest condolences, there is nothing so awful as to bury a child. Senseless violence like this robs life and everyone’s sense of safety, which is a deep loss. We are grieved for his family, friends, and the extended community grieving this young man. <3

  21. ChgoJohn says:

    Such a tragic waste, Charlie. I am a at los for words, other than to offer my sincere condolences to his family, friends, and to your and yours, as well.

  22. This is a really sad story Charlie and I have been watching the news and I know the Thomas Kelly’s parents are begging from someone to come forth with information or something to help explain why this happened to Thomas. I suspect the person that attacked him must of mistaken him for someone else… but either way this never should have happened to the Kelly’s it’s not fair. I also send my condolences to the Kelly family.

    Please please please tell Archie to be careful as Kings Cross really isn’t a safe area, I went last time I was in Sydney and even though it was in broad day light it really wasn’t an area that I liked hanging around >_<

  23. ChopinandMysaucepan says:

    Dear Charlie,

    I was saddened to read about this in the SMH, a young life robbed for no apparent reason is such a tragedy. I hope they catch the culprit and bring this person to justice. Blessings to Thomas’ parents and family.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Thanks so much Chopin. I too hope the police will catch him and that he will be severely dealt with. However, whatever his punishment, it will do little to ease the pain his parents and family will suffer as they try to live each day, coping with his loss xx

  24. bdrysdale says:

    This is such a sad story Charlie. My heart goes out to Tom’s family. (Barb @ Profiteroles & Ponytails)

  25. Caitlin says:

    so sorry to hear this. very sad
    http://livelovenyc.blogspot.com/

  26. gardencorrespondent says:

    This is so sad — you are right when you say this is every parent’s worst nightmare. My condolences to his family — this must be just impossible to comprehend.

  27. gardencorrespondent says:

    This is so sad, and it is so true that this is every parent’s worst nightmare. My condolences to his family at this impossibly sad time.

  28. I am so sorry to hear about this. My condolences to Thomas’ family and friends.

  29. cityhippyfarmgirl says:

    A hideous thing to have happened… His poor, poor parents having to make that decision to turn off the life support. No parent should have to go through that…

  30. justonecookbook says:

    I am so sad. So young, so innocent, and for no reason? That makes parents crazy. As a parent now I get shivered thinking of this horrible incident. My sincere condolences to Thomas’ family and friends.

  31. Mandy - The Complete Cook Book says:

    What a tragedy! My deepest and most sincere condolences to Thomas’ family. I hope that the murderer is apprehended and brought to justice soon.
    🙂 Mandy

  32. My deepest condolences to Thomas Kelly’s family. I read about this and was shocked that it could happen so easily, and for you to someone Archie knew. My brother often goes to Kings Cross and it scares us all that these events can happen so quickly and to innocents.

    Uru

  33. Simply senseless. Condolences and strength to all.

  34. Ugh, so sad. Why does this world have to be this way?

  35. tania@mykitchenstories.com.au says:

    What a frightening thing. It is so senseless and sad. I cannot possibly imagine the ramifications for his family
    httpwww.mykitchenstories.com.au

  36. OMG … My deepest condolences to the family and all involved.

  37. Norma Chang says:

    Yes, this is every parent’s worse nightmare. My sincerest condolences to the family.

  38. How terrible, and what a senseless loss of a young person. So sorry for the family.

  39. how completely miserable, hellish really.. c

  40. What a nightmare. My heart hurts for his family. So senseless.

    • hotlyspiced says:

      Thanks Jennifer. Yes, totally senseless and so very unnecessary. I’m sure his family are still in shock. xx

  41. Cucina49 says:

    What a terrible story, but you have memorialized him beautifully.

  42. Rocky Mountain Woman says:

    So senseless, so sad. We are grieving here also, a little girl snatched from her bed in the middle of the night, raped and strangled and left in a ditch. She was six…

    • hotlyspiced says:

      That’s appalling. To think what that poor little girl suffered. And how devastating for her family. Such a horrific crime. I’m sure you’re whole town is in mourning xx

  43. This was just so tragic and the thought of letting my kids out into that big old world in the future just terrifies me. My thoughts are with his poor family – my heart just breaks for them x

  44. Jed Gray (sportsglutton) says:

    I’ve not yet become a parent, but I can’t even contemplate losing a child. How terrible.

  45. I found, and continue to find, this such a terrible tragedy. One can only imagine what his parents went through and are going through. It really was so utterly senseless. And that the rotten pig’s friend did almost the same thing to a cameraman not long after. You can’t open the internet now without reading about people being murdered left, right and centre. I truly worry about what we have become and am just glad I am old enough to recall when times were somewhat simpler and kinder. I think it must be very very hard letting the kids out of the house Charlie Louie, can’t you lock them all in?

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