Kerry Asks Congress to Pay Alleged Bulger Victims

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/11/01/kerry_asks_congress_to_pay_alleged_bulger_victims/

Kerry asks Congress to pay alleged Bulger victims November 1, 2011

BOSTON—Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts asked Congress on Tuesday to circumvent a federal appeals court decision and approve $8.5 million in payments to the families of two men who allegedly died at the hands of former Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger.

A U.S. district judge in 2009 awarded the money to the families of Michael Donahue and Brian Halloran in a wrongful death lawsuit after another judge ruled that the FBI was responsible for the men's death. But an appeals court this month dismissed the suit and invalidated the award after ruling that the families waited too long to file claims and threw out the award this month.

Kerry said he was introducing legislation that would require the U.S. Treasury to deliver the unpaid damages to the Donahue and Halloran families.

"We can't place a time limit on these families' grief or allow arbitrary restrictions to deny them the court-ordered damages they're due," Kerry said in a statement. "It's our job to make this right."

Rep. William Keating, D-Massachusetts, has filed a similar measure in the House.

The wrongful death lawsuit claimed Halloran and Donahue were killed in 1982 after former agent John Connolly Jr. told Bulger that Halloran was going to implicate him in a murder.

Bulger and another member of his notorious Winter Hill Gang allegedly carried out the hit on Halloran, spraying him with 22 bullets as he screamed. Donahue was a bystander who had offered Halloran a ride home and was shot in the head as he tried to dodge the bullets.

Bulger was captured in Santa Monica, Calif., in June after more than 16 years as a fugitive. He is accused of participating in 19 murders and is currently awaiting trial on federal charges.

Connolly was convicted of racketeering for warning Bulger, who was an FBI informant, that he was about to be indicted, prompting him to flee Boston.

BennetWatson wrote:

Lack of any compassion or understanding on this board thus far.

Not shocking.

When the FBI gives information that leads to the death of a citizen, it is a VERY serious crime. $8.5 million hardly seems enough. 11/1/2011 3:36 PM EST

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kayak-56 wrote:

no, No, NO!!! Why should MY tax dollars go to these families??? This is ridiculous!

11/1/2011 3:37 PM EST

clambelly wrote:

It would be nice to See Sen. Kerry and Rep. Keating stand up for the FBI "CoIntelPro" ATTACK we're enduring as a result of the FBI Mueller/Bulger connnected Christa Worthington State Sponsored slaughter. The House GOP Judiciary Committee on Crime recently came to my site as did the Co-Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Grassley. This went no where under several disgraceful Republicans and Democrats that have betrayed all.

Some way to treat a not well 78 year old Oscar & Emmy winner, besides former art director for the Joint Chiefs. DEVIL'S MINIONS. What a poor excuse for the word human beings.

WorthingtonGate ... The WORST of AMERICA.

http://LibertyAndJusticeUnited.org

11/1/2011 3:39 PM EST

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NHJCNH wrote:

Tell horseface to go ask Lovie for the 8.5M if he feels that strongly about it and keep his hands out of my pockets.

11/1/2011 4:07 PM EST

terry180 wrote:

Its funny how Kerry feels the need to give money to Gangsters family. Keep your hands out of my pocket you fraud. Save your tears for a real victim.

11/1/2011 4:24 PM EST

clambelly wrote:

Of course they deserves payment, especially the Donahues. By the way one of the Donahues lawyers is Robert A. George, who has himself since been setup and framed by these FRAUDS in self-service.

Attorney Kevin Reddington has his work cut out for him. Kevin represented the sequestered Juror (Rachel Huffman)that was thrown off the Christa Worthington Scam trial of Christopher McCowen, which Robert George brilliantly and galliantly EXPOSED MASSIVE GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. Kevin then defended Author Peter Manso from the ROGUE Cape & Islands DA on trumped gun registration issues. He now represents Whitey's girlfriend Cathy Grieg, as well as, Robert A. George who has been setup. If Individual Government Employees were additionally sued for damages, besides our government (which is all of our tax dollars) maybe we'd curb some of this "NEW MOB" government CORRUPTION.

WorthingtonGate ... Non-Partisan Government CORRUPTION at its WORST. http://LibertyAndJusticeUnited.org

11/1/2011 4:59 PM EST

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urbandweller wrote:

One of these victims was as innocent as you and I.... (I hope). He simply gave a man a ride home and was shot in the head because of it. He had no conection whatsover from what I have read so many times now. The government set this "execution up" through a corrupt FBI agent. Do you honestly really think that damages shouldn't be paid? Really? It's my tax dollars too, but this is no different than a faulty tunnel ceiling collapse on someone. The government's actions lead to a wrongful death and they have to pay up. Pretty simple, a company has to do the same thing for a wrongful death. This family deserves payment.

11/1/2011 5:27 PM EST

dontcare09 wrote: Kerry isn't one to bypassa Google opportunity. Take note that Kerry sticks his nose into any story that is maximizing Google search optimization. He doesn't need to actually "do" anything to make news, he just inserts himself into top search stories and hop onto their publicity bandwagons. 11/1/2011 6:54 PM EDT

vladjr wrote: "We can't place a time limit on these families' grief or allow arbitrary restrictions to deny them the court-ordered damages they're due," Kerry said in a statement. "It's our job to make this right."

Those so-called "arbitrary restrictions" would be the statutes of limitation. Hardly arbitrary Johnny boy. The First Circuit Court of Appeals determined the families had adequate notice of their claims against the government and simply filed suit too late. 11/1/2011 7:20 PM EST

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Scooter69 wrote: Has the Ketchup wife written the yacht fraud tax check yet? 11/1/2011 8:50 PM EST

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NOTE: THIS NEXT ONE GOT INSERTED BEFORE vladjr and my second post above was gone!

mickeydurkin wrote:

Just an example of Kerry the hack grandstanding. Do something of substance for Massachusetts.

11/1/2011 7:09 PM EST

Recommend Report abuse ReasonableNow wrote: When I was young, I wondered how Bulger was able to live a gangster lifestyle in this state for such a long time. Then, I figured it out after growing into adulthood: it is a part of this state's insular, clubby and incestuous culture, stupid. 11/1/2011 9:36 PM EST

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