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Eugene Kelly, a “tireless” activist for the victims of the Stardust tragedy, has died at the age of 62.
ugene, whose 17-year-old brother Robert died in the horrible fire, had campaigned for most of his life for a new investigation into the tragedy in which 48 people lost their lives in the 1981 nightclub fire.
Eugene passed away suddenly at home last week.
His campaign partner and Stardust survivor, Antoinette Keegan, who lost her sisters Mary and Martina in the fire, paid tribute to Eugene and described him as “dogmatic” and “determined”, saying that the late activist was part of his family.
“He stood his ground, he stood his ground and he would never give up. We are totally in shock. For his family and grandchildren, we all think of them. Obviously, they are very upset.
“We did not think Eugene would leave within a week after the coroner’s preliminary hearing.
“He had a great impact on the campaign. There were times when it would give me the strength to carry on. He was dogmatic in his attitude and if he couldn’t accomplish anything with the Justice Department, he would just walk in and do a sit-in protest until he got what he wanted. We eventually got the documents and then we were off.
“Until the end, he said: ‘I’m not going anywhere and I will fight until my last breath,’ he and my mother, and unfortunately they are both no longer here because they were the two strongest activists.”
Antoinette’s mother, Christine, passed away three months ago and has vowed, along with her family, to continue campaigning for the victims and in honor of Eugene and his late mother.
48 new investigations will be launched next year in an attempt to determine the broader circumstances that led to the tragedy.
“My family knew what Eugene did for the campaign, but also for my family and my mother. He would pick her up and take her to meetings and places she needed to go. It was like part of our family. My family saw that, and since he passed away, they promised to take up the work he did in his honor, “said Antoinette.
Eugene is survived by his partner Martha, children Stuart, Mandy and Lyndsey, grandchildren, a larger family, and a large circle of friends.
Online editors
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