Jimmy Kelly

James Kelly, 53, known by his family and friends as Jimmy, was a loved brother and friend who liked to sing aloud as he strolled home from the pub. A White man from Merseyside, Jimmy was an unemployed labourer.

Jimmy died in the custody of Merseyside Police in 1979. He was violently arrested while walking home from his local pub. Multiple witnesses saw Jimmy being severely beaten and kicked during his arrest by Huyton police. He died within an hour of his arrest.

The post-mortem examination revealed that he had sustained numerous injuries and fractures to his body as well as 32 bruises. The inquest jury reached a unanimous verdict of death by 'misadventure', finding the cause of death to be heart failure, with no adverse comment made about the police.

Shortly after his death, the Jimmy Kelly Action Committee was formed by family members, friends and other campaigners. An active group, they organised protests, conferences to demand a public inquiry and to propose radical changes to post-death investigations.

They met with other bereaved families, including Celia Stubbs, partner of Blair Peach, and campaigners such as Tony Ward, Melissa Benn and Phil Scraton. Together they formed INQUEST: United Campaigns for Justice.