Mystery of Ned Kelly’s victims

A DESCENDANT of one of the police officers violently gunned down by Ned Kelly wants a formal archaeological dig to identify exactly where each man died.

Leo Kennedy, whose greatgrandfather Michael was ambushed and shot dead at Stringybark Creek, says it’s the only way to end a historic spat between researchers who have warned an upgrade of the area for the 140th anniversary will point visitors in the wrong direction.

It comes as the NT News can reveal the dates honouring the dead officers at the Police Memorial on St Kilda Road are wrong.

Sergeant Kennedy and constables Michael Scanlan and Thomas Lonigan died on October 26, 1878.

“The legacies of these men are at risk of being lost forever,’’ Mr Kennedy said.

“We don’t want their sacrifices to be forgotten.’’

He said trees that had previously been marked had been cut down and was furious the site had never been given the same treatment other fallen officers had received.

“Kelly chased my greatgrandfather down like a wild animal for more than a quarter mile. He blew out his heart. He also shot him in the head,’’ Mr Kennedy said.

Researcher Bill Denheld said the department was acting on wrong advice, saying even the current signs were incorrect.

‘We don’t want their sacrifices to be forgotten’

“Hundreds of thousands of visitors to one of Australia’s most historic sites have been hoodwinked,’’ he said.

Mr Denheld used an 1878 photo of the area to identify where Sgt Kennedy was shot through the chest by Kelly.

“The shotgun pellets are probably still sitting there in the ground,’’ Mr Denheld said.

The construction of a new walking trail is expected to show visitors where a fourth police officer escaped and the exact spot where Constable McIntyre died.

“Descendants go there to pay their respects – but it’s the wrong spot. It’s a disgrace,’’ Mr Denheld said.

A second site, a few hundred metres away, has been identified by another group.

Victims of Crime Commissioner Greg Davies said ongoing arguments were disappointing. “It is incomprehensible that some continue to besmirch his victims in order to lionise Ned Kelly,” he said.

DELWP district manager Lucas Russell said the planned revamp was an extension of work first started in 2009.