Home of late Private Kelly"s sons hit by vandalism

Repeated acts of vandalism have been carried out at the home of two of the late Private Paddy Kelly"s sons in Moate. Three incidents occurred, all of which saw paint used to deface the perimeter wall of the house on the Clara Road. Pte Kelly lived in Moate and was 36 years of age when he was fatally shot during the rescue of kidnapped supermarket boss Don Tidey in Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, in 1983. Nobody has ever been convicted in connection with his killing. The first of these acts of vandalism occurred in February of this year, just two days after RTE aired a documentary related to the killing of Pte Kelly. The property which was vandalised is home to Pte Kelly"s sons David and Patrick. A slogan was painted on the perimeter wall of the house on that occasion in February. After it was removed, the same slogan was again repainted on the wall a week later. The most recent incident, which occurred last weekend, saw a tin of white paint used to deface the wall. David Kelly was interviewed for the RTE documentary broadcast in February. When asked if the vandalism which first occurred at the house two days later was prompted by the programme, he said: 'I honestly don"t know.' 'It was strange that it happened within 48 hours of the programme going out, but perhaps it was just someone with anti-social tendencies who was looking to wind us up,' said Mr Kelly. The Kellys" mother Catherine (nee Bradley) grew up at the house in question, and David said that his family had been due to move in there just before Pte Kelly was killed in 1983. The vandalism has been reported to Gardai, and Mr Kelly urged anybody who had seen anything to come forward with information. 'I am very irritated by it. We try to keep the place looking well, and it costs a lot to have the wall repainted each time something like this happens,' he said. 'I just hope whoever did it is caught and is named and shamed.' Mr Kelly said he was most appreciative of the support shown to the family by their neighbours and friends who are as disgusted over these incidents as the family themselves. It is thought likely that one individual, acting alone, is responsible for the incidents.