Threats cause more upset for Kelly family

The family of Bath's New Year's Day murder victim say they willnot be intimidated by threatening messages.

Since Paul Kelly's murder outside the Longacre Tavern on January 1this year, his relatives have been battling to ensure the killer isbrought to justice.

But they said their joy that two people had been charged with themurder has been overshadowed by a number of threats posted on aninternet site and malicious phone calls made to the family.

Mr Kelly, known locally as Ringo, died after being stabbed sixtimes outside the pub on London Road just 30 minutes into the newyear.

The Kelly family, who live across England and Scotland, say thethreats are the latest addition to the nightmare which has taken overtheir lives.

Threatening messages have been posted on the family's web pages,which contain pictures of Paul with his family in happier times.

One of the messages, posted earlier this month, was signed off"bang bang".

Last week Mr Kelly's sister Tracey Ryan, who lives in Paisley inScotland, received a malicious phone call calling her a liar and acheat.

The frightened mother of two, speaking to her local paper thePaisley Daily Express, said: "My family have spoken out in the pastto ask for help to catch whoever murdered Paul and it seems we arenow paying the price.

"All we want is justice for Paul and for all this hassle to end.I'm worried that someone might come to my front door to carry out thethreats."

Mr Kelly's mother Allison added: "Obviously it caused a bit oftrouble and upset.

"My sister phoned me and asked if I had seen the messages whichhad been posted. When I saw them I thought 'that explains the call toTracey'.

"It has made us all anxious, this is the last thing we need on topof everything we have been through.

"We informed the police in Bath and it is not going to stop uscoming down and going to court."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said the force was awareof some threatening remarks on a website and were looking into it.They added the police were working with the family of Mr Kelly.

On Thursday, June 21, Karl Eastwood, of no fixed abode, and a 17-year-old youth who cannot be named for legal reasons appeared at BathMagistrates' Court charged with Mr Kelly's murder.

They were remanded in custody while they await the trial and aredue to appear at Bristol Crown Court today.

a.baker@bathchron.co.uk