Madeleine Kelly pays emotional tribute to brothers Stuart and Thomas
The sister of Stuart and Thomas Kelly has paid an emotional tribute to the two brothers she has lost.
Madeleine Kelly has taken to social media platform Facebook with a childhood portrait of Stuart, herself, and Thomas.
"My beautiful brothers," she wrote alongside the image.
"I’ll cherish our memories forever”.
Madeleine's brother Stuart took his own life almost three weeks after the fourth anniversary of their brother Thomas's death.
Stuart was 14 when his older brother Thomas died after being randomly punched while walking with his girlfriend in Kings Cross in July 2012.
Stuart had been an outspoken advocate against alcohol-related violence, but he became the target of abuse by those opposed to the lockout laws.
Friends of the teen revealed he had received endless hate mail and cyber bullying after lobbying in favour of the laws, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Madeleine's post comes only days after her father said a "painful goodbye" to Stuart, in what is the second tragedy for the family in four years.
Mr Kelly expressed the "unbearable grief" his family is enduring following the death of Stuart this week.
"The most painful goodbyes are the ones that are never said and never explained," Mr Kelly wrote on Facebook on Tuesday night.
Social media has been flooded with messages of support and condolence for the Kelly family since Stuart's death.
Like Stuart, John Christie also lost his brother Daniel to a coward-punch attack in Kings Cross.
“For those of you who are quick to ‘spray’ vitriol about how these lockout laws are diminishing your nights out, please stop and be mindful about the effects your comment(s) can be making,” he posted on Facebook.
“RIP Stuart Kelly. I know how it feels to be caught in the same strange position. To be a proverbial ‘buoy’, awash in a sea of motives and agendas.”
Following his brother's death, Stuart Kelly went on to support the work of the Kelly Foundation.
He became a strong campaigner against alcohol-fuelled violence.
Premier Mike Baird on Wednesday said Stuart was "an extraordinary young man".
"My thoughts and prayers are with the Kelly family at this incredibly sad and tragic time," Mr Baird said in a statement.
"I was deeply impressed by Stuart when I saw him speak last year with honesty and passion at a gala dinner for the Thomas Kelly Foundation.
"Through his words and actions Stuart helped to ensure there was a lasting legacy for his brother Thomas."
The Kelly boys both attended The King's School at Parramatta, where Stuart was a prefect before graduating last year.
Headmaster Tim Hawkes said the school was shocked to hear about his death on Monday night.
"To have lost two sons in such circumstances is beyond awful," Dr Hawkes said in a statement.
"As a student, Stuart was greatly respected. He was a school prefect who possessed a quiet integrity.
"The strength and character shown by Stuart when his brother was killed ... was extraordinary."
Eighteen-year-old Thomas had his life support turned off in July 2012 after being randomly attacked by Kieran Loveridge.
Loveridge is now serving a 10-year and two-month jail sentence for manslaughter.
Last year Stuart delivered an emotional speech about the grief of losing his brother at a gala dinner for the Thomas Kelly Foundation, set up by parents Kathy and Ralph.
"I look back at that moment: I was 14 years old, I was told by a stranger that my brother, my best friend, was going to die. Those few words would change my life forever," Stuart said.
"I'm now 17, that was three years ago. However, I carry a deep scar that you cannot see. It's always there, it never leaves. It sits below the surface of your skin and surfaces when you least expect it."
At the dinner Stuart called on the state government to maintain its stance on lockout laws.
The lockout laws were introduced by the Baird government in 2014 after the deaths of Daniel and Thomas.
They require most licensed premises in central Sydney and Kings Cross to refuse entry to patrons from 1.30am and stop serving alcohol at 3am.
Dr Hawkes said the school has offered support to Mr and Mrs Kelly and their daughter Madeleine.
Madeleine is now the only surviving sibling of the Kelly family.
* For support and information about suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 or MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78
