21-year-old Sinead Kelly was killed in Dublin in early hours of Monday, June 22nd, 1998.
At the time media reported she was a "junkie" and "hooker"; while sporadic mentions in the last decade focus solely on prostitution.
I went through archives, to try tell a fuller story. /1
At the time media reported she was a "junkie" and "hooker"; while sporadic mentions in the last decade focus solely on prostitution.
I went through archives, to try tell a fuller story. /1
Sinead was born in 1977 in the Rotunda in Dublin.
Her mother, Patricia, and father, John, had 3 other children, Robert, Alan and Laura.
The family home was on Oldtown Avenue in Santry but Sinead had moved out and was living on her own in St. Teresa's flats on the southside.
Her mother, Patricia, and father, John, had 3 other children, Robert, Alan and Laura.
The family home was on Oldtown Avenue in Santry but Sinead had moved out and was living on her own in St. Teresa's flats on the southside.
Primary school Sinead attended was a multi-denominational one in Glasnevin, called North Dublin National School Project.
It opened in early 1980's and occupied a temporary premises on Church Avenue, Glasnevin for much of the decade.
School tried to find a new premises in 1988.
It opened in early 1980's and occupied a temporary premises on Church Avenue, Glasnevin for much of the decade.
School tried to find a new premises in 1988.
Mount Temple in Clontarf is where Sinead went to secondary school and did her Inter Cert.
She decided to drop out of school before her Leaving Cert, though that would not be the end of her education.
Sinead got a part-time job in Bewley's in 1993, which she liked a lot.
She decided to drop out of school before her Leaving Cert, though that would not be the end of her education.
Sinead got a part-time job in Bewley's in 1993, which she liked a lot.
A full-time position as a shop assistant opened up with K.C. Confectionary and Sinead got the job.
It's unclear if it was the Moore Street or Henry Street shop but one of them.
K.C. was on Moore Street for many years, this photograph was taken all the way back in 1957.
It's unclear if it was the Moore Street or Henry Street shop but one of them.
K.C. was on Moore Street for many years, this photograph was taken all the way back in 1957.
It was around this time in Sinead's life that drugs became a significant problem.
Getting addicted to heroin and losing her job.
That's when she first turned to sex work; as a means of income for rent, food, drugs and did this for one month.
Her worried mother then intervened.
Getting addicted to heroin and losing her job.
That's when she first turned to sex work; as a means of income for rent, food, drugs and did this for one month.
Her worried mother then intervened.
Patricia remortgaged the family home on Oldtown Avenue, Santry to get her daughter Sinead best treatment possible.
Brought her to The Rutland Centre, Dublin (pic) in late 1997 and Sinead's stay there was a helpful one.
She was heroin-free for much of the remainder of her life.
Brought her to The Rutland Centre, Dublin (pic) in late 1997 and Sinead's stay there was a helpful one.
She was heroin-free for much of the remainder of her life.
This enabled Sinead to enroll in a back-to-education course and she loved it.
A talented creative writer and that was by far her favourite part of the course.
Possessing bundles of compassion, Sinead befriended a struggling older class member and helped him find his feet.
A talented creative writer and that was by far her favourite part of the course.
Possessing bundles of compassion, Sinead befriended a struggling older class member and helped him find his feet.
All of this fell apart, due to truly horrific circumstances outside her control.
In late March, 1998, Sinead and her friend went to a nightclub, had a good night and were looking for a taxi home.
A stranger pulled up alongside and offered them a lift, Sinead said 'no thanks'.
In late March, 1998, Sinead and her friend went to a nightclub, had a good night and were looking for a taxi home.
A stranger pulled up alongside and offered them a lift, Sinead said 'no thanks'.
Her friend was interested in the lift, it was very cold and obviously after many drinks you're keen to get home.
Sinead said 'alright then', and they got into his car.
There was no sign of anything amiss or disconcerting on the drive home, at least initially.
Sinead said 'alright then', and they got into his car.
There was no sign of anything amiss or disconcerting on the drive home, at least initially.
He seemed like an ok guy.
Sinead's friend asked him would he mind if they stopped at a petrol station to buy cigarettes and he said 'no problem'.
While her friend was outside the kiosk, he sped off at high speed with Sinead, pulled over and proceeded to stab and rape her.
Sinead's friend asked him would he mind if they stopped at a petrol station to buy cigarettes and he said 'no problem'.
While her friend was outside the kiosk, he sped off at high speed with Sinead, pulled over and proceeded to stab and rape her.
He threw Sinead, who was heavily bleeding, out of the car.
A taxi driver noticed her white dress with blood all over it, got out, picked her up, put her in the car and rushed her to St. James's hospital.
Guards were alerted and visited her in hospital to take statements.
A taxi driver noticed her white dress with blood all over it, got out, picked her up, put her in the car and rushed her to St. James's hospital.
Guards were alerted and visited her in hospital to take statements.
Guards identified a suspect in the rape and attempted murder, a 'family man' with a wife and children.
They asked Sinead to attend an identification parade but upon learning the man had a wife and children, Sinead didn't want to do it.
Didn't want to ruin the children's lives.
They asked Sinead to attend an identification parade but upon learning the man had a wife and children, Sinead didn't want to do it.
Didn't want to ruin the children's lives.
Guards obtained a court order to compel Sinead to attend the identity parade.
They called to her family home with the court order weeks later and her bewildered parents didn't have a clue about any of it.
Sinead concealed it from them, as she didn't want to worry her mam.
They called to her family home with the court order weeks later and her bewildered parents didn't have a clue about any of it.
Sinead concealed it from them, as she didn't want to worry her mam.
In the weeks after that man raped and stabbed her, Sinead relapsed into addiction and returned to The Rutland Centre.
This time, it didn't go well.
All of the progress she made in rebuilding her life was undone by an unknown, evil coward; who seems to have got away with it.
This time, it didn't go well.
All of the progress she made in rebuilding her life was undone by an unknown, evil coward; who seems to have got away with it.
A relapse meant £850 was owed to her dealer but Sinead didn't have it, so returned to sex work.
Shortly before she died, at around 11:45pm on Sunday, June 21st, 1998, Sinead spoke to Garda Butler.
He said she was "in good form" but still cautioned her and told her to move on.
Shortly before she died, at around 11:45pm on Sunday, June 21st, 1998, Sinead spoke to Garda Butler.
He said she was "in good form" but still cautioned her and told her to move on.
Less than an hour later, screams were heard by Scottish tourists, who immediately alerted police.
Martin William Cole and Ann Johnstone were on the balcony of an apartment near Pearce Place, after a night out.
They submitted testimony at Sinead's inquest 6 years later in 2004.
Martin William Cole and Ann Johnstone were on the balcony of an apartment near Pearce Place, after a night out.
They submitted testimony at Sinead's inquest 6 years later in 2004.
According to their testimony, they heard the following from Sinead, quote:
"God help me, someone please help me!"
They also testified they were positive 2 men left the scene, although Dr. Marie Cassidy could not state definitively that it was 2 men carried out the attack.
"God help me, someone please help me!"
They also testified they were positive 2 men left the scene, although Dr. Marie Cassidy could not state definitively that it was 2 men carried out the attack.
It is theorised she was held down by one man, while another man stabbed Sinead 18 times in the head, neck, body.
Once through the heart, possibly the fatal blow.
That theory is partly based on the Scottish eye-witnesses and partly on the lack of defensive wounds on her arms.
Once through the heart, possibly the fatal blow.
That theory is partly based on the Scottish eye-witnesses and partly on the lack of defensive wounds on her arms.
Sinead's funeral was held on Saturday, June 27th, 1998 in Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Ballymun Road, Glasnevin.
It was well-attended by the local community, mostly younger people.
Her favourite song, 'Eternal Flame', played at the funeral.
It was well-attended by the local community, mostly younger people.
Her favourite song, 'Eternal Flame', played at the funeral.
Irish tabloid media in 1998 covered her murder in sensationalist fashion, much like they had for Belinda Pereira, 18 months earlier.
"Hooker", "Junkie", "Crack addict", "Hopeless addict" all used.
That latter label is infuriatingly false, aside from utterly dehumanizing.
"Hooker", "Junkie", "Crack addict", "Hopeless addict" all used.
That latter label is infuriatingly false, aside from utterly dehumanizing.
There is always hope for addicts, nobody is beyond saving.
Sinead demonstrated a willingness to turn her life around; she had loving parents, brothers and a sister to help her.
She was thriving in that endeavour, until a cowardly man violently shattered all of her progress.
Sinead demonstrated a willingness to turn her life around; she had loving parents, brothers and a sister to help her.
She was thriving in that endeavour, until a cowardly man violently shattered all of her progress.
When you google 'Sinead Kelly' in 2023, click on 'News', there's nothing.
When you google 'Sinead Kelly Murder Dublin 1998', this is what you're presented with.
"Sinead the prostitute" is a mere footnote in Trevor Deely, Sophie Toscan du Plantier, Ashling Murphy stories.
When you google 'Sinead Kelly Murder Dublin 1998', this is what you're presented with.
"Sinead the prostitute" is a mere footnote in Trevor Deely, Sophie Toscan du Plantier, Ashling Murphy stories.
Sinead did sex work for a mere 3 months of her short 21 years yet she's known as a "prostitute".
She was trying to overcome addiction yet she's known as an "addict".
All that remains are labels.
It's like she didn't even exist as a human being, one with feelings, fears, hopes.
She was trying to overcome addiction yet she's known as an "addict".
All that remains are labels.
It's like she didn't even exist as a human being, one with feelings, fears, hopes.
Sinead wasn't a drug addict, prostitute.
Those were difficulties she faced, courageously.
Sinead Kelly was a young woman, trying to better herself in education and attempting to recover from addiction.
Forgotten quickly, by the public.
Remembered forever, by her family.
Those were difficulties she faced, courageously.
Sinead Kelly was a young woman, trying to better herself in education and attempting to recover from addiction.
Forgotten quickly, by the public.
Remembered forever, by her family.
I should have put a Content Warning in the original thread, as there's a discussion of the horrific events leading up to her death.
I felt her story couldn't be told properly, without mentioning the brutality and evil inflicted upon her.
CW: Sexual assault and murder discussed.
I felt her story couldn't be told properly, without mentioning the brutality and evil inflicted upon her.
CW: Sexual assault and murder discussed.
This photo was colourised and citation says 1957, though it looks later to me.
KC Confectionary stood for Kitty Coughlan Confectionary, it was an expansion of her "Coughlan's Cakes" shop in Malahide.
When she vacated premises, shop later became Meaghers Grocery Store Malahide.
KC Confectionary stood for Kitty Coughlan Confectionary, it was an expansion of her "Coughlan's Cakes" shop in Malahide.
When she vacated premises, shop later became Meaghers Grocery Store Malahide.
SInead's murder remains unsolved but Guards reportedly knew who killed her.
They prepared a file for the DPP; they declined to prosecute the murder, reportedly due to insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
It was a devastating 'lack of resolution' for her family.
They prepared a file for the DPP; they declined to prosecute the murder, reportedly due to insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
It was a devastating 'lack of resolution' for her family.
I hope this didn't read like placing blame on Sinead's friend for getting out of the car because there's no blame, she couldn't have known his twisted, evil plan.
Also hope she didn't blame herself for it.
If she hadn't got out, he might have attacked both of them regardless.
Also hope she didn't blame herself for it.
If she hadn't got out, he might have attacked both of them regardless.
I believe, based on the timeline of events, that this was very likely the original job advertisement for the job Sinead ended up getting.
This appeared in the Evening Herald on Friday, April 12th, 1996, which is around the time she started with K.C. full-time.
This appeared in the Evening Herald on Friday, April 12th, 1996, which is around the time she started with K.C. full-time.
This was the type of sensationalist headline and approach tabloids went with.
I didn't include it in main thread as it's demeaning and factually incorrect (Sinead was 21-years-old) but I better show it, for the sake of accuracy.
This headline the day after her funeral, awful.
I didn't include it in main thread as it's demeaning and factually incorrect (Sinead was 21-years-old) but I better show it, for the sake of accuracy.
This headline the day after her funeral, awful.
I apologise for the error in this tweet.
Percy Place not Pearce Place, thank you Mathieu 🙏
Percy Place not Pearce Place, thank you Mathieu 🙏
https://twitter.com/Mathieunorry/status/1619436467843108865?s=20&t=UzKV8srrGnSQUHbGGd0sFQ
The source of the error was both the Evening Herald and Irish Independent said "Pearce Place" in their reporting from the inquest.
I put an * beside it in my first draft because I know Percy Place and couldn't find Pearce Place on a map but I forgot to change it 🤦♂️
I put an * beside it in my first draft because I know Percy Place and couldn't find Pearce Place on a map but I forgot to change it 🤦♂️
That Dublin taxi driver has never been named, to my knowledge, but if anyone knows who it was I would love to give this Good Samaritan a mention.
His kindness that night stands in stark contrast to the brutality inflicted on Sinead.
His kindness that night stands in stark contrast to the brutality inflicted on Sinead.
I really hope those Scottish tourists were ok.
Although it was too dark for them to see Sinead clearly, hearing screams from a violent murder had potential to be very traumatising.
They also did a brave, commendable thing by coming forward with testimony for the inquest 🙏
Although it was too dark for them to see Sinead clearly, hearing screams from a violent murder had potential to be very traumatising.
They also did a brave, commendable thing by coming forward with testimony for the inquest 🙏
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