Karol Kelly: Brothers jailed for murdering father-of-five

Karol Kelly died in March 2018 after being stabbed several times

Two brothers have been jailed for more than 30 years for murdering a father-of-five in an attack in Londonderry.

Karol Kelly died in March 2018 after being stabbed several times.

Brothers Sean Anderson (24) and Gary Anderson (25) were found guilty of his murder last year. Sean Anderson will serve a minimum of 17 years and Gary Anderson a minimum of 15 years.

Mr Kelly's brother Paul said "five children were robbed of their childhood and memories with their daddy".

Speaking outside Londonderry Crown Court on Thursday, Paul Kelly said: "After five long emotionally draining years our family are ready to close down this horrible chapter in our lives - as a family, we have struggled with the public nature of [Karol's] death and now want to keep him in our hearts where he is safe, at peace and loved forever."

Mr Kelly died in Grafton Street in the early hours of 4 March 2018 after an altercation during which he was stabbed several times.

Judge Philip Babington said the attack on Mr Kelly attack involved "gratuitous violence".

Karol Kelly died in Grafton Street in Derry

Earlier Judge Babington said Sean Anderson displayed a "minimal level of remorse".

He told the court Gary Anderson had "played a lesser role" and had shown remorse.

But, the judge added, he had still "played a part in this horrific crime".

Paul Kelly says Karol Kelly was the family's world

Det Insp Michelle Griffin described Mr Kelly's murder as "really brutal and savage".

She said the Anderson brothers "savagely stabbed him to the chest and the abdomen, and he very quickly died from his injuries".

The police officer praised the community for their response in the aftermath of the killing, and said it was only following the sentencing that the Kelly family would be able to grieve properly.