A relative of Thomas Kelly’s one-punch killer, Kieran Loveridge, has taken to Facebook to defend her cousin after the death of Thomas’s younger brother, Stuart.
Karissa-Leigh Loveridge’s cousin Kieran is currently serving a 13-year prison sentence.
Karissa-Leigh believes he isn’t in any way responsible for Stuart’s tragic death last week, Yahoo7 reports.
Stuart Kelly opens up about the loss of his older brother. Post continues after video…
Instead, she blames Stuart’s parents for allowing him to be exposed to the relentless bullying that is believed to have contributed to him taking his own life.
“There is no way in this world my cousin Kieran can take the blame for Stuart’s death as he did not intentionally kill him,” she wrote on Facebook before discussing the Kelly parents.
She said Stuart, 18, was “bullied for going to politicians” over the lock-out laws, “not that this is an excuse for Stuart’s death as no one deserves to die”.
“But the public need to understand the Kelly parents did put a 16-year-old in front of the media and have continued to do so as the years have gone on,” she continued.
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He may not have been directly responsible for the death of Stuart Kelly but it was his actions over the death of his brother that led to this. If he hadn't of punched and killed Thomas Kelly then it would not have led to this. It's cause and effect.
No, he wasn't directly responsible in the sense that bullies may have been, although but for his actions I don't think anyone doubts that those parents would have both their sons today. No senseless killing of Thomas, and he would have had no urge to put himself out there trying to effect change. Turning the blame on them is horrendously insensitive given what they are going through.
Absolutely right, it's an example of the ripple effect that one senseless act can have. I understand this girl wanting to protect her family, but she just comes off as completely insensitive and clueless.