Less than a month after the fourth anniversary of his older brother Thomas’ death from a one-punch attack in Kings Cross, 19-year-old Stuart Kelly reportedly took his own life and was found on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The 19-year-old passed away in Mona Vale, Sydney in July, 2016.
At the time, police said there were no suspicious circumstances around Stuart’s death – now his parents have spoken out and believe “something catastrophic” occurred to their son as a result of O-Week uni hazing rituals, something which left their son “broken”.
“You are both so loved. My beautiful brothers, I’ll cherish our memories forever,” 23-year-old Madeleine Kelly wrote alongside this childhood photo. (Image/Madeleine Kelly Facebook)
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Stuart’s parents believe their son was bullied and assaulted during his one night at college and have filed statements with NSW police, asserting this is what led to his suicide.
They are calling university hazing to be outlawed and want a coronial inquest held into Stuart’s death.
“I believe that he was assaulted, possibly sexually, this was something Stuart would never have recovered from,” Kathy Kelly told 60 Minutes in 2017.
Watch Stuart talk about the harrowing loss of his brother in the video below. Post continues after…
It has long been speculated that the catalyst for his heartbreaking act was reportedly the bullying he received for his family’s efforts to campaign for tougher laws against drunken violence in NSW.
Stuart was just 14 when his brother and “best friend” Thomas Kelly died after a random coward punch attack in Kings Cross in 2012. It was perpetrated by a drunk Kieran Loveridge.
Since the senseless loss of 19-year-old Thomas the Kelly family began the Kelly Foundation and have been campaigning for stricter laws for alcohol related violence in NSW.
According to Stuart’s friends, this made him a target for bullying and hate mail, with The Daily Telegraph reporting that this resulted in his decision to defer his marine biology course at the University of Sydney.
“Stuart spent just one night at the university accommodation before deciding to postpone his studies for a year,” the publication claimed.
A lengthy report titled The Red Zone was released on Monday, produced by group End Rape on Campus, and revealed new, detailed harrowing insight to university hazing and misogyny rampant in the institutions.
EROC ambassador, investigative journalist and co-author of The Red Zone, Nina Funnell told the Sydney Morning Herald, “Universities are failing to provide a safe learning environment for students.”
The deputy head of St Paul’s told Guardian Australia that the collage will fully co-operate with any coronial investigation.
If you, or anybody you know needs support or information about suicide prevention contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit Beyond Blue
