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Belfast Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘A real lady' – DUP MLA pays tribute as mother of former First Minister Arlene Foster dies
Julia Georgina (Georgie) Kelly passed away peacefully in hospital yesterday. She was aged in her early 90s. Originally from Sandy Row in Belfast, Mrs Kelly spent most of her life in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. Her husband John Kelly, who survived an IRA murder bid, passed away suddenly in 2011. A death notice described Mrs Kelly as 'a dearly beloved wife', 'dear mother' and "a loving grandmother' to her 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. It said her passing was 'deeply regretted by her sorrowing family'. 'She was the constant within the family, her quiet disposition yet steely strength ensured her family had love and support and stability through very challenging times' DUP MLA Deborah Erskine said Mrs Kelly was a woman of strong faith. The Fermanagh-South Tyrone MLA said: 'Mrs Kelly was a well loved and respected member of the community. "In every sense of the word, she was a real lady. A woman who cared a lot about her family and the community. "She was so proud of Arlene and her achievements politically. "Importantly Mrs Kelly was a woman of strong faith, courage and conviction - something which was held dear throughout her life and relied upon in many of the dark times she faced, while facing the danger of terrorism on the border daily.' Fermanagh-based victims group SEFF also paid tribute to Mrs Kelly. The group said: 'Family meant so much to her and she was incredibly proud of all of their achievements, all her children - and of course Arlene's various political milestones, but also she took considerable interest in her grandchildren's lives and others throughout the family circle - she was very much understood as the matriarch.' The group referred to the attempted murder of Mr Kelly, who survived being shot in the head by the IRA in 1979. The tribute also recalled how, as a teenager, Mrs Foster's school bus was bombed by the IRA in an attempt to kill the driver, who was in the UDR. SEFF added: 'Mrs Kelly did not have a simple life, she had much to withstand including supporting her husband and family when Provisional IRA terrorists sought to murder him at their home outside Rosslea, and also when Arlene survived the school bus bomb along with other pupils and bus driver Ernie Wilson. 'She was the constant within the family, her quiet disposition yet steely strength ensured her family had love and support and stability through very challenging times. 'For her recent 90th birthday celebrations Mrs Kelly selflessly decided she didn't want any gifts but instead invited anyone wishing to mark it to instead make a donation which would then be given to SEFF. This was a measure of her thoughtfulness and generosity.' In a 2016 interview with the Belfast Telegraph, shortly after Mrs Foster became First Minister, Mrs Kelly spoke of her pride. She said her daughter exhibited leadership skills at a young age. In the same article, Mrs Foster paid tribute to her mother's steady guidance. She said: 'Mum's always been very level-headed and doesn't get overly excited about things - I know what you're going to say: so where do you get your temper from then? Well, I'm very quick like my father. Mum's very steady and she was always there. Looking back, you appreciate that. "When my father was shot, mum internalised her fears and concerns at the time, but her hair went white, almost overnight. And she was just around my age at the time. She was never one for crying and I don't remember tears, though, apart from when we lost dad in 2011." She added: "Mum and dad were married for 54 years, so obviously it was an awful wrench for her when he died suddenly, and very difficult to get over. She's lucky to have very good friends and three of us close to her, and she gets out and about to her clubs and so on. "She's very strong and she was a marvellous support to me - as was my late mother-in-law'. Mrs Kelly's funeral will leave her home on Monday for a service in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Lisnaskea, followed by interment in St Mark's churchyard, Aghadrumsee.
Belfast Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Family meant so much to her': Tributes as mother of former First Minister Arlene Foster dies
Julia Georgina (Georgie) Kelly passed away peacefully in hospital yesterday. She was aged in her early 90s. Originally from Sandy Row in Belfast, Mrs Kelly spent most of her life in Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. Her husband John Kelly, who survived an IRA murder bid, passed away suddenly in 2011. A death notice described Mrs Kelly as 'a deadly beloved wife', 'dear mother' and "a loving grandmother' to her 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. It said her passing was 'deeply regretted by her sorrowing family'. 'She was the constant within the family, her quiet disposition yet steely strength ensured her family had love and support and stability through very challenging times' Fermanagh-based victims group SEFF paid tribute to Mrs Kelly. The group said: 'Family meant so much to her and she was incredibly proud of all of their achievements, all her children - and of course Arlene's various political milestones, but also she took considerable interest in her grandchildren's lives and others throughout the family circle - she was very much understood as the matriarch.' The group referred to the attempted murder of Mr Kelly, who survived being shot in the head by the IRA in 1979. The tribute also recalled how, as a teenager, Mrs Foster's school bus was bombed by the IRA in an attempt to kill the driver, who was in the UDR. SEFF added: 'Mrs Kelly did not have a simple life, she had much to withstand including supporting her husband and family when Provisional IRA terrorists sought to murder him at their home outside Rosslea, and also when Arlene survived the school bus bomb along with other pupils and bus driver Ernie Wilson. 'She was the constant within the family, her quiet disposition yet steely strength ensured her family had love and support and stability through very challenging times. 'For her recent 90th birthday celebrations Mrs Kelly selflessly decided she didn't want any gifts but instead invited anyone wishing to mark it to instead make a donation which would then be given to SEFF. This was a measure of her thoughtfulness and generosity.' "I think he'd be very well qualified": Leo Varadkar on Colum Eastwood Irish presidential run In a 2016 interview with the Belfast Telegraph, shortly after Mrs Foster became First Minister, Mrs Kelly spoke of her pride. She said her daughter exhibited leadership skills at a young age. In the same article, Mrs Foster paid tribute to her mother's steady guidance. She said: 'Mum's always been very level-headed and doesn't get overly excited about things - I know what you're going to say: so where do you get your temper from then? Well, I'm very quick like my father. Mum's very steady and she was always there. Looking back, you appreciate that. "When my father was shot, mum internalised her fears and concerns at the time, but her hair went white, almost overnight. And she was just around my age at the time. She was never one for crying and I don't remember tears, though, apart from when we lost dad in 2011." She added: "Mum and dad were married for 54 years, so obviously it was an awful wrench for her when he died suddenly, and very difficult to get over. She's lucky to have very good friends and three of us close to her, and she gets out and about to her clubs and so on. "She's very strong and she was a marvellous support to me - as was my late mother-in-law'. Mrs Kelly's funeral will leave her home on Monday for a service in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Lisnaskea, followed by interment in St Mark's churchyard, Aghadrumsee.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Gerry Adams had reputation as ‘warmonger', victims' campaigner tells court
Gerry Adams had a reputation as a 'warmonger' and 'peace taker', advocates with victims' groups have told the jury in a libel action taken by the former Sinn Fein president against the BBC. Mr Adams is suing the BBC over a claim made by a confidential source in a Spotlight documentary that alleged he had sanctioned the killing of a former Sinn Fein official who turned out to be an informant. In the programme, an anonymous source claimed that the shooting of Denis Donaldson was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams 'gives the final say'. He denies any involvement in the killing and has denied being in the IRA. Ann Travers, an advocate with the victims' group the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), said Mr Adams had a reputation as someone 'very heavily involved with the murder of innocent people' and being a 'senior member of the IRA'. Ms Travers explained to the jury at the High Court in Dublin that her sister Mary was killed by the Provisional IRA in an attack in which her father Tom Travers, who was a lawyer who became a magistrate in 1979, was also shot six times. Mr Travers survived and returned to work years later. Asked by Eoin McCullough SC, for the BBC, about the perception of the public of Mr Adams, Ms Travers said: 'His reputation would be one of having been a warmonger.' Asked to explain the reason for this, she replied: 'For the Troubles, supporting the IRA and the murder of innocent people.' Under cross-examination from Declan Doyle SC, for the plaintiff, Ms Travers said Mr Adams had 'cast a long and dark shadow' over her life since 1984. She said: 'I would even have a fear of him.' Ms Travers added that many people in Northern Ireland are still scared and afraid of what they can say in case they are threatened. The witness said that whenever she criticises senior Sinn Fein figures, especially Mr Adams, she is attacked, trolled and threatened. 'I have had death threats about it,' she said. Mr Doyle put to Ms Travers that Mr Adams' reputation was overwhelmingly of a peacemaker, to which she said she would disagree and said the first person she thinks of in that respect in Northern Ireland is John Hume. Asked if Northern Ireland is now comparatively more peaceful, she said: 'Of course we should all be grateful we're not getting murdered any more.' She added: 'Thank you to Mr Adams for people being able to go to work and the IRA not murdering people.' Ms Travers acknowledged that Mr Adams 'was part of' peace efforts but said he was 'yet to do anything' for victims' groups such as the SEFF. Mr Doyle said Mr Adams worked with the Relatives for Justice group. Ms Travers accused Mr Adams of working with groups that were biased towards republicans. She said: 'He doesn't do anything for people like me. In fact, he condones what happens to us – that is why his reputation is as such that he is a warmonger.' Ms Travers added that it was 'a joke' when Mr Adams talks about being a peacemaker or denies being in the IRA. She said that he had 'lied consistently' about being in the IRA. Ms Travers added: 'I'm delighted that Mr Adams decided to turn away from the Armalite.' The BBC also called Northern Ireland solicitor Trevor Ringland as a witness. Mr Ringland is a former Ireland rugby international who was born to a police family in West Belfast in 1959. He said his father had been shot by the IRA in North Belfast. Mr Ringland said he worked with victims' groups in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Asked by Paul Gallagher SC, for the BBC, for the public's perception of Mr Adams, he replied: 'He is seen as a peace taker, not a peacemaker.' Under cross-examination, Mr Doyle said the response was a soundbite and asked Mr Ringland if he made it up. The witness replied that it was not a soundbite and added: 'I think the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland would regard him as a peace taker.' Mr Ringland said people welcome that violence has stopped but it should not be the case that you thank somebody for stopping something they should not have been doing in the first place. 'It is sucking the grace out of our society,' he said. Asked by Judge Alexander Owens if he believed someone's reputation can change, Mr Ringland said he did but added: 'I think Mr Adams' reputation has not improved.' He said the former Sinn Fein president 'messes with people's minds', adding: 'His reputation is as someone who stepped away from the violent past and is now promoting his constitutional preference through other means. 'There is still hatred at the core of that reputation – he is not aiding reconciliation in Northern Ireland.' Mr Doyle asked Mr Ringland if he had been the vice chairman of the Ulster Unionist Party East Belfast branch and had run as a candidate for the party in 2010. He said this was right but that he had subsequently left the party in protest against the leader saying he would not attend a GAA match. Asked if he then joined the 'all-inclusive Northern Ireland Conservative Party', Mr Ringland said he had and had later campaigned for a Labour politician. He said: 'I would like to see politics based around social issues rather than politics based around waving a flag.' The trial continues.
