Maddie Kelly 'blames herself' for brother Stuart's suicide speaks about Thomas' coward-punch death

Publish date: 2024-05-26

Maddie Kelly has broken her silence about the deaths of her brothers Thomas and Stuart.

Almost six years after Thomas was killed by a coward punch in Sydney's Kings Cross aged just 18, his sister has opened up about the tragedy.

The 22-year-old revealed her first reactions to news her brother had been attacked, and about the suicide of her younger sibling Stuart.

Pictured is Maddie Kelly Pictured is Thomas Kelly

Maddie Kelly (pictured, left) has broken her silence about the deaths of her brothers Thomas (pictured, right) and Stuart

The 22-year-old (pictured, second right, next to father Ralph) spoke out about her first reactions to news her brother had been attacked, and about the suicide of her younger sibling Stuart (pictured, right)

The 22-year-old (pictured, second right, next to father Ralph) spoke out about her first reactions to news her brother had been attacked, and about the suicide of her younger sibling Stuart (pictured, right)

Maddie was at home with Stuart and their parents Ralph and Kathy Kelly when the family received a phone call telling them about the assault, she told New Idea.

She stayed up late waiting for news from her parents who had gone to hospital to be with Thomas, but heard nothing until she was told to join them in the morning.

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'I was studying for my HSC, so I packed all my books - thinking I'd revise there - I was a bit annoyed. I didn't know what we were going to be told,' she said.

Maddie said she was traumatised by seeing Thomas on life support, which later was turned off.

Almost six years after Thomas was killed by a coward punch in Sydney's Kings Cross aged just 18, his sister has opened up about the tragedy (pictured from left are Thomas, Kathy, Ralph and Maddie Kelly)

Almost six years after Thomas was killed by a coward punch in Sydney's Kings Cross aged just 18, his sister has opened up about the tragedy (pictured from left are Thomas, Kathy, Ralph and Maddie Kelly)

Maddie (pictured, left, with mother Kathy) was at home with Stuart and their parents Ralph and Kathy Kelly when the family received a phone call telling them about the assault

Maddie (pictured, left, with mother Kathy) was at home with Stuart and their parents Ralph and Kathy Kelly when the family received a phone call telling them about the assault

Then came the trial of Kieran Loveridge (pictured, left, after sentencing), who was sentenced to five years and two months in jail for a series of assaults that night, including the attack on Thomas

Then came the trial of Kieran Loveridge (pictured, left, after sentencing), who was sentenced to five years and two months in jail for a series of assaults that night, including the attack on Thomas

Then came the trial of Kieran Loveridge, who was sentenced to five years and two months in jail for a series of assaults that night, including the attack on Thomas.

Anger at the leniency of the sentence motivated Maddie to study to become a lawyer, and has since graduated with a law degree.

Thomas' death - which occurred on his first trip to the infamous Sydney suburb - was soon followed by another tragedy.

Stuart Kelly started university happy and excited, but his first night at Sydney University's St Paul's College ended in tears.

Pictured is Thomas Kelly Pictured is Ralph Kelly

Stuart Kelly (pictured, right, Thomas is pictured left) started university happy and excited, but his first night at Sydney University's St Paul's College ended in tears

Stuart (pictured, second left, with Maddie, right, and their parents), 18, was 'bawling his eyes out' when he called his parents, begging for them to come and get him, Maddie said, and believes he was bullied about Thomas

Stuart (pictured, second left, with Maddie, right, and their parents), 18, was 'bawling his eyes out' when he called his parents, begging for them to come and get him, Maddie said, and believes he was bullied about Thomas

Stuart, 18, was 'bawling his eyes out' when he called his parents, begging for them to come and get him, Maddie said, and believes he was bullied about Thomas.

Months later, almost four years to the day after Thomas was killed, Stuart committed suicide, and the news 'broke' Maddie.

Maddie said she reacted to Stuart's death by locking herself away, racked by guilt and sadness.

'I felt like the worst big sister. I completely blamed myself. Why didn't I make him talk to me?' 

Months later, almost four years to the day after Thomas was killed, Stuart committed suicide, and the news 'broke' Maddie (pictured with Thomas and Stuart)

Months later, almost four years to the day after Thomas was killed, Stuart committed suicide, and the news 'broke' Maddie (pictured with Thomas and Stuart)

Pictured is Ralph Kelly Pictured is Kathy Kelly

The Kelly family (pictured, left is Ralph Kelly, right is Kathy Kelly) have since established the Kelly Youth Foundation, and are calling for a coronial inquest into what happened to Stuart at college

The Kelly family have since established the Kelly Youth Foundation, and are calling for a coronial inquest into what happened to Stuart at college.

They hope to change Australia's drinking culture, and raise awareness of suicide with a website staykind.org.au. 

Maddie is now hoping to start life again and is considering a move to the UK, but said both her and her parents remain haunted by the deaths of Thomas and Stuart.

Public outrage over the initial jail term given to Loveridge, then-19, led to an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The successful 2014 appeal led to a new minimum sentence of 10 years for the manslaughter of Thomas Kelly and assaults on four other people that night. 

Public outrage over the initial jail term given to Loveridge (pictured, left), then-19, led to an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions

Public outrage over the initial jail term given to Loveridge (pictured, left), then-19, led to an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions

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