The evidence of torture committed against him and his two co-accused, Osgur Breatnach and Brian McNally, galvanised a campaign for his release.
[citation needed] Pat McCartan, who later became a TD for the Workers' Party, acted as his solicitor at this time, despite being on the opposing side in the SFWP–IRSP split.
He received a presidential pardon in 1992, along with over IR£1 million as compensation following campaigns by Amnesty International and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.
[citation needed] The events of Kelly's arrest and trial(s) were the subject of an edition of the RTÉ Television documentary series Scannal, broadcast on 22 September 2014.
[7] Despite rumours that he intended to join Sinn Féin or the United Left Alliance he stood at the 2011 general election as an independent candidate in the Wicklow constituency.