Man beaten to death 'over party noise complaint'
The nephew of a Sinn Fein Assembly member was murdered after his attackers suspected he complained about the noise coming from a party above his flat, it was claimed today.
Kieran Kelly, 35, was beaten to death in his home in Antrim Road, north Belfast, and his girlfriend was injured in the attack.
Sinn Fein Mid Ulster MLA John Kelly said Mr Kelly, who moved into the flat on Thursday last week, was beaten to death with a hammer.
“It seems someone complained about the noise and the people at the party thought it was Kieran as he had only just moved into the flat downstairs,” he said.
“An attacker hit him over the head with a hammer before they gave him a savage beating as he lay on the floor, even managing to break his leg.
“The violence of his death, and this makes it even sadder, was in contrast to the very gentle nature of Kieran. He was a very gentle and a very sensitive young man.
“It is that violence, which was in contrast to Kieran, that hurts really most of all and hurts his mother and father,” he added.
Mr Kelly was taken to hospital for treatment to serious head injuries following the assault at about 9am yesterday, but died shortly afterwards.
His girlfriend was placed on a ventilator for a time before her condition improved.
Police continued to question two men about the murder today after they were arrested yesterday, a spokeswoman said.
Detectives have appealed for anyone with information about the attack to come forward.
