Carol Ann Kelly

Carol Ann Kelly (8 May 1969 - 22 May 1981) was 12 years of age and lived in the Twinbrook area in West Belfast. On the 19 May, 1981 while playing outside her home, she was asked by a neighbour to go to the shop for a pint of milk. As she returned, a number of British army Land Rovers drove by. Two plastic bullets were fired, one hitting Carol Ann on the head, she collapsed instantly, still holding the carton of milk. Taken to the Royal Victoria Hosptial, she died two days later 22 May as a result of extensive head injuries. In May 1981, 16,656 plastic bullets were fired, causing three deaths, with 15 people seriously injured since the Easter of that year.
Carol Ann was one of seven people killed by British soldiers using plastic bullets during an upsurge of violence that took place between April and August 1981. By August 1981, ten people had been killed. According to Liz Curtis, many suffered horrific injuries, included brain damage and blindness in one or both eyes. The army claimed that they had responded to a group of missile-throwing youth, though it was not alleged according to Anthony Jennings, that Kelly was involved in any rioting.
Witnesses stated that there was no rioting in the area at the time Kelly was shot. They said that the soldiers were 'very agitated' when they drove their army jeeps through the area. Five soldiers had been killed in South Armagh by the Irish Republican Army and were shouting that 'We'll get your for our five mates today' at the residents.
In a statement issued on the 21 May by both Fathers Denis Faul and Raymond Murray condeming the aggressive use of plastic bullets by the Royal Ulster Constabulary describing their use as 'an attempt to terrorise local people and prevent them from exercising their political right to peaceful picket.' Responding to this critisim, RUC Chief Constable, Jack Hermon in a reference which appeared to cast doubt on the innocence of victims such as Carol Ann, said 'Let parents exercise their responsibility over their children...in order to avoid a repetition of the tragedies which have already occurred.
Inquest
On the 7 May 1982 the inquest into the death of Kelly was opened, this was the day before what would have been her 13 birthday. The Coroner was James Elliott, who refused the request from the family solicitor Oliver Kelly to adjourn the proceedings for the appointment of a jury. Howeve Elliott refused and sat alone in the absence of a jury. No soldiers were charged in the death of Carol Ann Kelly.
Aftermath
The death of Carol Ann Kelly was addressed during a Congressional Hearing by Brenda Downes, the widow of 22-year-old John Downes, who was killed by a plastic bullet on 12 August 1984. Mrs Downes noted the deaths of both Kelly and Julie Livingstone, who was 14 years old when she died. Livingstone had been killed by soldiers in the same manner, just six days before Kelly. Downes stated during the hearing that "They were children. They offered no threat to anyone, but their lives were cut tragically short by a plastic bullet."

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