Thomas Kelly’s parents believed their son’s killer had changed in jail. Now they say they would’ve never agreed to his parole if they weren’t fed a ‘pack of lies’
Thomas Kelly’s parents claim they were unaware of their son’s killer’s violent outbursts in prison before giving him their blessing for his early release.
Kieran Loveridge will be released within a week after the NSW State Parole Authority (SPA) determined there would be a ‘significantly increased risk’ if he were released at a later date.
The now 30-year-old murdered 18-year-old Kelly in a “cowardly and unprovoked” attack in July 2012, and two weeks ago Judge Geoffrey Bellew said the SPA was “satisfied” it was in the best interests of the community to to release Loveridge.
Mr Kelly’s parents, Kathy and Ralph, supported the parole, but on Wednesday night they told ABC’s 7.30 program that they did so based on “a pack of lies” and that Loveridge had shown no remorse.
At the parole hearing in April, they learned that Loveridge had repeatedly been violent during his years in prison, attacking several people, including punching a bicycle in the face.
The parents of one-punch victim Thomas Kelly said they were ‘caught off guard’ after their son’s killer’s latest violent outburst came to light during his parole hearing. Ralph and Kathy Kelly are pictured
Thomas Kelly (pictured) was killed in a ‘cowardly and unprovoked’ attack in July 2012
In the most recent incident, just weeks before the parole hearing, Loveridge was drunk and violent toward corrections officers.
“It’s hard to believe that the State Parole Authority thinks he won’t pose a risk to the community, or a low risk as they say,” Kelly said.
“Considering he had an outburst on February 27, it appears he is still the same person he was 12 years ago.”
Ms Kelly said Loveridge ‘was drunk in prison and aggravated’.
“We were talking a month and a half ago… and we weren’t aware of that when we put forward the submission saying we supported parole. As far as we’re concerned, we did the right thing.’
She said they didn’t learn the extent of Loveridge’s behavior in prison until the parole hearing, “as the judge basically laid it all out.”
“It was disgusting,” Ms Kelly said.
“It was just terrible that we were kept in the dark about that because we actually went with our submission and supported the parole with a package of lies.
“If we had known that, we certainly wouldn’t have supported it.”
Mr Kelly believes it is ‘only a matter of time’ before Loveridge commits further crimes once he is released on parole.
“He can’t be watched 24 hours a day, and he will drink, he will become violent, and he will reoffend,” he said.
“There’s no doubt that when he touches alcohol, the violence, the aggravation comes out, the violence comes out, and it’s uncontrollable.”
Kathy Kelly does not believe Loveridge regrets killing her son.
‘Absolutely not… of course he couldn’t contact us, I understand that. But there are ways to contact the family and show that you are sorry.
‘There has never been an apology for what he did. I don’t think there was ever any remorse.”
Kieran Loveridge (left) will be released from prison on Thursday after the NSW State Parole Authority determined there would be a ‘significantly increased risk’ if he were released at a later date
Ralph Kelly agreed, saying, “We know he doesn’t regret killing Thomas.
‘We received a letter of apology the day before the Supreme Court [case where Loveridge was convicted].
“It wasn’t written by him; it was written by someone in the legal profession and had a squiggle at the bottom, which earned him 25 percent [time] out of there, because he signed the letter.’
Ms Kelly said most people don’t realize ‘what prisoners have access to’ [illegally] making alcohol and various things that are not allowed in prison’.
Loveridge, who attacked four others on the night he killed Thomas Kelly, was initially given a sentence of just four years, but on appeal this was increased to a minimum of ten years and a maximum of thirteen years and eight months.
As Loveridge was sentenced, Thomas’ younger brother Stuart made a heartbreaking statement outside court.
‘I no longer have an older brother. Instead, I have a hole in my life that I have to somehow come to terms with and accept,” he said.
Stuart Kelly later took his own life.
Thomas Kelly’s brother Stuart (pictured centre) made a heartbreaking statement outside court
“We lost our beautiful son… four years later our other child Stuart took his own life as a result of the loss of his older brother,” Ms Kelly said after Loveridge’s parole hearing.
“He was only 14 years old when Tom was murdered… our family may never find forgiveness for Mr. Loveridge.
“We continue to mourn our two boys every day… we have been given a double life sentence.”
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