# Kew Files: Buried for decades, a mother’s harrowing letter amid officials’ Bloody Sunday papers

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-beltel-5373912/kew-files-buried-for-decades-a-mother-s-harrowing-letter-amid-officials-bloody-sunday-papers
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-beltel-5373912/kew-files-buried-for-decades-a-mother-s-harrowing-letter-amid-officials-bloody-sunday-papers.md
Podcast: [The BelTel](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-beltel-5373912)
Published: 2026-05-13T00:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/the-beltel/episodes/kew-files-sam-mcbride-finds-harrowing-letter-in-bloody-sunda
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/65670352d7b5d40012be7324/e/6a032c09a257c57500b25d3a/media.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2284

## Resource

Top civil servants had debated whether to effectively admit that Bloody Sunday was not as Lord Widgery's whitewash had claimed.  Documents uncovered in the formerly secret Kew Files reveal much debate among officials as to how they should deal with the legacy of the 14 deaths against the backdrop of the nascent peace process.    In one of these files is a heartfelt handwritten letter to the Prime Minister, John Major; it is a plea for justice.  It was written by Kathleen Kelly, mother of Michael Kelly, who died after being shot by Paratrooper Soldier F.      Ciarán Dunbar is joined by our Northern Ireland editor, Sam McBride.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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