The Medusa Fora

earlier this week i got a phone call from Jean, Kirsty's mum, this is the gist of what she said. A sad day.

Justice for Kirsty Campaign

5 December 2009

The committee which has led the fight to achieve justice for Kirsty MacColl has agreed to cease campaigning. It will disband and stop collecting money to fund its activities. The remaining funds will be distributed to charities of which Kirsty would have approved.

The committee recently received news that the Mexican government have closed their case file on Kirsty’s death, and regard this as the end of the matter. They said they had exhausted all avenues of investigation and taken statements and affidavits from many witnesses. None of these had led to further information as to who may have been implicated, apart from the boat hand Cen Yam, who had already been convicted of causing the accident.

Once the case was closed there was virtually nothing left for the committee to campaign for. We are not able to bring any more pressure on the Mexicans than we have achieved already.

After Kirsty’s tragic death in Cozumel, Mexico in December 2000, her mother, Jean MacColl, launched the Justice for Kirsty campaign. Its primary purpose was to establish whether the Mexican judicial system had investigated the case sufficiently thoroughly for Kirsty’s family, friends and fans to accept that justice had been done in accounting for her untimely death. It did so by rallying the outrage and anger at the accident, and raised funds to allow Jean and the committee to pay for lawyers, and to approach governments at the highest level.

The committee was successful in achieving most of its aims. The Mexican government was compelled to re-open its enquiries after pressure from the campaign and the British government exposed the clumsy cover-up that followed the accident. In the unstable circumstances in Mexico in recent years, it is unlikely that any more could be achieved: the case has been re-examined very thoroughly.

Jean intends to continue working in a personal capacity to raise public awareness of the key issues in the campaign: committee members have pledged their informal support for her efforts. She wishes to thank everyone who has contributed in any way to helping her and the campaign. The support of The Pogues and Billy Bragg have been especially important in increasing the public profile of the campaign.

The two charities receiving the remaining campaign funds are:

• Casa Alianza Mexico, which provides care and rehabilitation for homeless children and others at risk in Mexico

• Cuba Music Solidarity, which Kirsty had supported enthusiastically.

To which it only remains to add our thanks to all Pogues fans who supported the collections over the past few years.

To the moderator. When I post something I choose which category to put it in carefully. The end of the campaign is more important than any of the rubbish in Media, do not hide it in the barely visited "Others" section. I have asked you time & time again, do not fuck around with my posts.

As Phil says, many thanks to you all for your support. Viva Kirsty, we miss you xxxxxxxx

Spider

Spider Stacy wrote:To the moderator. When I post something I choose which category to put it in carefully. The end of the campaign is more important than any of the rubbish in Media, do not hide it in the barely visited "Others" section. I have asked you time & time again, do not fuck around with my posts.

The moderator hears you. When I move something I choose which category to move it to carefully too, even though not everybody may approve of the decision. "Media" section is for the Pogues related stuff (news, reviews, TV appearances etc.). Kirsty-related post belongs to "Others" section and not here - it was not "hidden", it was simply moved to the proper place. (But if you prefer to call it "fucking around with your posts", fine.)

That said, I am sorry to hear about the cease of the campaigning, and yes, Kirsty IS missed.

Kirsty MacColl's mother ends campaign for justice after nine years

On anniversary of singer's death, her mother abandons bid to bring to justice the man she believes killed her daughter

* Caroline Davies and Jo Tuckman in Mexico City
* guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 December 2009 17.31 GMT


Kirsty Maccoll

The anniversary next week of her daughter's untimely death will find Jean MacColl at the Brixton Academy, south London, watching The Pogues belt out the Christmas classic Fairytale of New York.

"And when I hear those words: 'You scumbag, you maggot', I'll think of that man," she said.

Nine years after the death of acclaimed singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, whose distinctive voice is immortalised on this famous song, her 86-year-old mother's determination to uncover "the truth" is undiminished.

Kirsty was just 41 and at the peak of her career when she was mown down by the speedboat Percalito as she and her sons, Jamie, 15, and Louis, 13, scuba-dived on the spectacular Chankanaab reef at Cozumel island off Mexico's Yucatán peninsula on 18 December 2000.

But this week, having finally exhausted all legal avenues to bring to justice the man she believes is responsible for the death, Guillermo González Nova, one of Mexico's wealthiest businessmen, Jean has abandoned the Justice for Kirsty campaign which has sustained her through intense grief.

The campaign raised funds through "the most wonderful fans" to pay for the costly expenses of Jean's legal battle. "But it felt dishonest to go on, to keep asking for money, when we don't feel we've got a chance," she said.

In the summer she visited Mexico with Louis – his first visit since the traumatic day he and his terrified brother found themselves "swimming in Mummy's blood". They were informed the case was to be closed. Demetrio Guerra, the family's lawyer, told the Guardian he expected this to be confirmed in a final resolution from Mexico City in the New Year. There is no prospect of further appeal.

"But that does not mean I am giving up," said Jean. "If anything turned up, I'd be there like a shot. Any chink in his armour."

Questions have shadowed the case since the 2003 conviction of Cem Yam, the 28-year-old deckhand who claimed he was at the controls, and who was sentenced to two years and 10 months' imprisonment for culpable homicide, immediately transmuted to a £61 fine.

On board at the time was González Nova, president of Comercial Mexicana, the third largest supermarket chain in Mexico, two of his sons, his daughter-in-law and 11-month-old granddaughter.

The family told police that the boat was travelling at one knot in open water outside the area where vessels are restricted.

But the Justice for Kirsty campaign alleges Yam had drunkenly told friends he took the rap having been promised money and a house on Cozumel, where González Nova still reportedly has a holiday home, and where Yam was said to live in a small breeze-block building.

It claims witnesses, including Ivan Diaz, the dive instructor with Kirsty and her sons, overheard González Nova admitting to police and harbour officials he had been at the helm. Diaz, who is also alleged to have claimed that he saw Yam run from the back to the front of the boat after the collision, has now left Mexico for the US.

Other witnesses, it says, saw his two sons nearest the wheel at the time, prompting suspicions he was protecting one of them. But nothing could be proven.

Whether Kirsty was inside or outside the restricted area has been contested. Her horrific injuries, however, would appear to attest the boat was not travelling at one knot but closer to the 18-20 knots some witnesses reported.

Jean holds González Nova responsible because he was the boat's owner, and, she said, the only person on board with a licence to drive it.

"There have been lots of suspicious and dubious things about the case," Guerra said, "but we have no proof that González Nova used his influence to get decisions that favoured him."

Jean's ground-floor flat in Ealing, west London, and just minutes from her daughter's home, is a shrine to the singer's success. Record awards cover the living room walls, while photographs fill the mantlepiece. Since news of the campaign's closure – any remaining money is being donated to two of Kirsty's favourite charities – fans have inundated her mother with emails of support, which brought her to tears. The campaign, she admitted, "has been the main thing in my life for the past nine years". She has documented the case in her biography of Kirsty, Sun on the Water.

"Kirsty's last instinctive action was to protect her children, to push them out of the path of that boat," she said. The campaign had been her way, as a mother, of doing the same ."We haven't achieved our ambition," she said, sadly, "but we have done our absolute best."

She claims González Nova "believes I just want his money. But all I ever wanted was the truth and an apology. I never got the truth. I've never had an apology. And it's too late for that now."

Jean will continue to champion Kirsty's cause through a World Health Organisation campaign to raise international awareness of health and safety.

But first her plan is for a memorial, a stone carving in the shape of a bird, at the spot where Kirsty's body was bought ashore.

"It would say 'Kirsty MacColl, who was killed by the speedboat Percalito' and with the date of her death. And every time that man goes by, he should remember. I hope the local people would be kind enough to put some flowers on it. I think the mothers would, hopefully, do that for me."
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Zuzana, It's difficult to see how anybody could be more pogues related than Kirsty. If she was still alive she would be with us now. Spider

This is a sad, deflating end to a hard fought campaign. Rest in peace Kirsty.

Saw this in the Guardian earlier.

Sad news.

RIP Kirsty.

Zuzana wrote:

Spider Stacy wrote:To the moderator. When I post something I choose which category to put it in carefully. The end of the campaign is more important than any of the rubbish in Media, do not hide it in the barely visited "Others" section. I have asked you time & time again, do not fuck around with my posts.

The moderator hears you. When I move something I choose which category to move it to carefully too, even though not everybody may approve of the decision. "Media" section is for the Pogues related stuff (news, reviews, TV appearances etc.). Kirsty-related post belongs to "Others" section and not here - it was not "hidden", it was simply moved to the proper place. (But if you prefer to call it "fucking around with your posts", fine.)

That said, I am sorry to hear about the cease of the campaigning, and yes, Kirsty IS missed.

Without wanting to start an argument on post that is regarding a sensative issue. It appears ok to post on the media section articles that have only the briefest mention of the word 'Pogues' or members of the Pogues so whats the problem with posting Spiders comments on the Media section? Firstly, a lot of us and I think the guys themselves (I apologise if I am reading this wrong guys) see Kirsty as a member of the Pogues family anyway and secondly the word 'Pogues' is mentiond at the end of the piece. Therefore if its ok to say post an article about an interview with somebody else who happens to just mention the pogues in one of their answers why is this not ok? Lastly I appreciate the fact that its important fo hte moderator to make sure that things are posted in the correct place as thats what makes this forum so bloody good, if things were ramdomly posted all over the place people wouldnt bother however I have to say for such an issue the piece should be posted in the place were has most impact to be read and I believe this is the place. I'll be honest I probably wouldnt have seen this if it was in the 'Others' section. That said the fact that it remains here probably shows that you do realise that.

Lots of love to Kirsty's Mum whom along with her daughter are two of the bravest women on this planet

Mark_Wafc wrote:Saw this in the Guardian earlier.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/de ... sary-death
Link for anyone who wants to see it in its original context.

A tragic loss, which is still shocking. And it's sad to think that all the struggles haven't led to a just conclusion.
Rest in peace, Kirsty. You will not be forgotten.

Well to stop arguments, what about it having a spot on the front page for the next month whilst people are logging in for the Christmas shows, these being the same people who have donated year after year?

Just an idea. And for what its worth Zuzana you do a bloody good job as does DzM and MacRua you do it all for nothing and all for The Pogues. You guys should never receive any stick whatsoever, so thanks.

RIP Kirsty

Walsh

MissWalshy wrote:Well to stop arguments, what about it having a spot on the front page for the next month whilst people are logging in for the Christmas shows, these being the same people who have donated year after year?

Just an idea. And for what its worth Zuzana you do a bloody good job as does DzM and MacRua you do it all for nothing and all for The Pogues. You guys should never receive any stick whatsoever, so thanks.

RIP Kirsty

Walsh

Sorry I didnt want start an argument especially on such an important page

MissWalshy wrote:Well to stop arguments, what about it having a spot on the front page for the next month whilst people are logging in for the Christmas shows, these being the same people who have donated year after year?

Just an idea. And for what its worth Zuzana you do a bloody good job as does DzM and MacRua you do it all for nothing and all for The Pogues. You guys should never receive any stick whatsoever, so thanks.

RIP Kirsty

Walsh

Ps that is a very very good idea Walshy

Sad to hear of the end of the campaign. At least the monies raised will go to charities which she supported.

its so sad, i really feel for jean i hope somewere somehow that justice will be done

sleep tight kirsty xx

boycott those supermarkets in Mexico.. Not that it brings justice.. but..

very sad. Those poor kids