Latest News

Change of Venue

Important note for anyone hoping to go to the book launch!

The venue has now been changed to cope with demand (we hope.....) and will now be at Kettners Restaurant, Soho (near to the French House), same date and time i.e. 6 - 8pm on Monday 21st April.

Sun on the Water - a new book by Jean MacColl

The official book launch for Jean's book Sun on the Water will take place at the French House in Dean Street Soho on Monday 21st April (6 - 8pm). All welcome (it's not a huge venue but we think should be fine). If you're planning on attending drop us a line if you can just to give an idea of numbers.

The book will be going out to bookshops on 2nd April and is already online for preordering in various places.

Also... there will be an extended hour long programme about Kirsty, the book and the campaign on Sunday 23rd March at 21:00. LBC Radio, its shows are available as Listen Again for the many of us who can't pick up LBC on our radio sets. You can listen live online - see the LBC site.

17th January 2008

Please demand a re-trial now

This is an important message to all Kirsty's fans and friends everywhere across the world. Would you all please contact the Mexican Ambassadors resident in your own country (Full list of Embassies), demanding a proper re-trial of those involved in Kirsty's untimely death.

• A death according to the Mexican pathologist that 'should never have happened'.
• A death that Cen Yam, who took responsibility for the accident,  seemed to think was not a serious affair.
• A death that has never been properly investigated by successive Mexican governments and judiciaries.
• A death in which perjury has been committed and those involved have not been brought to trial.

We are now in our eighth year of fighting for justice together for a young woman we all loved who was my daughter and the mother of Jamie and Louis who she pushed out of the way of danger.
We are stronger than ever so let us all, every single one of us, work for a true resolution in this year.

People often ask me what they can do; now you have the answer. The addresses of the Mexican ambassadors are in the web site. Please ask your friends to look at the site and act.

Thank you for all your kind messages. I am unable to reply to them all but they are very welcome and do not go unnoticed. Certainly our strength, demonstrated in our Justice for Kirsty Campaign, is gathering momentum and cannot be ignored.

Thank you,
Jean MacColl, proud to be a campaigner for justice.

An updated letter template to send is available (updated January 2008), also available as a Word document or a PDF document.

Feature in the Sunday Telegraph

There is an interview with Jean in the Sunday Telegraph dated 23rd December 2007. Olga Craig's article points out that the inquiry into Kirsty's death "would be reopened after being quietly shelved a few months ago" and that new subpoenas are to be served by January 15 on two witnesses to the incident.

Fairytale of New York rises again

The now perennial Christmas hit, The Pogues' Fairytale of New York, featuring Kirsty of course, is the fourth best selling song in the UK in Christmas week. Its 2007 success has been fuelled by a short lived censorship of some of its lyrics by BBC Radio 1, a decision which was rapidly reversed after some fair public outcry, particularly highlighting the fact that it has been played unaltered for the preceding twenty years! The profile of the Campaign can only benefit.

Message from Jean MacColl

I am very aware that this is the end of the 7th year since Kirsty's death and the Mexicans are still shielding a man known to both the government and the judiciary. They must stop trying to find excuses to let him off the hook.

I am not asking for a jail sentence, simply an admission of guilt which seems to be beyond their powers or a new trial and full investigation with new witnesses. This latter seems umlikely. Too risky, perhaps for Gonzalez?

So, much as I don't want it (and neither do they), the court of Human Rights seems the only solution. Perhaps Gonzalez should reflect on how his behaviour to escape blame has led to shaming his country. I have no time for the judiciary's quandary. Thank you all for still being engaged in the fight as it starts its eighth year.

The book still has a last page empty for an acceptable resolution.

Christmas greetings and a peaceful and Happy New Year.

Jean  

Kirsty remembered

As the seventh anniversary of Kirsty's death off Cozumel Island in Mexico passes, the campaign in her name continues. This has become an annual time of reflection, and fans around the world continue to post to forums and blog their memories - see Wes Eichenwald's recollections of the time.

Soho Square 2007 ... and a new Book

Sunday, 7th October was probably one of the best gatherings we have ever had in Soho Square. Newcomers mixed happily with regulars like John Miranda who came from San Francisco, his seventh successive visit. He played guitar with the Norwegians who were welcomed for the first time. A semi-professional group of singers and musicias, they were fans of Kirsty and were a great hit. They promised to bring the rest of their group next year.

I was happy to announce our new book out next April 2nd 2008. I have written Kirsty's biography and John Dalby, Fred Shortland and myself have wtitten about the campaign up to the present day. The book was really in answer to the many requests we have had for more anecdotes.

Although long periods seem to elapse before we give updates on the progress of our campain, rest assured that we are more determined than ever to continue the fight for justice for Kirsty. Meanwhile, there is a difficult time ahead for me as Christmas draws near but the warmth of your affection shown on Sunday (and the much improved confident singing!) sustain me.

The brass bands can now play 'Fairytale' so we may hear them and, of course, I have to promote the book. We need it to go across the world to state our case for 'an accident that should never have happened' and that we know the real culprits have so far escaped justice.

With best wishes to friends evrywhere, Jean MacColl.

Amnesty International

You may find the Amnesty International report on Mexico of interest.

Justice For Kirsty now on MySpace

To increase the exposure to the campaign, we now have a MySpace profile at www.myspace.com/justiceforkirsty which will run in parallel with this site, so if you prefer to get your updates through MySpace you may now do so!

New Year message from Jean MacColl

Dear Friends,

I would like to send you all my thanks and very good wishes for 2007. We have come a long way together and the journey is not yet over. Neither is our determination. With each year we have learnt more about perjury and corruption in Mexico.

Your support by sending the first postcards in their hundreds brought responses if not a resolution. We are making headway and now need your support to send off the new post cards and letters. There is a new President and government and we are determined to continue our efforts in seeking a JUST resolution.

I hold Gonzalez Nova responsible for Kirsty's death. He has lied about the speed of the boat, its positon in the water and who was driving. One has to ask oneself, why? Was he fearful of losing a substantial sum of money? Did his money mean more to him than admitting his family were responsible for the the death of a young mother?

Well, he reckoned without Kirsty's family and friends throughout the world and until we have a JUST resolution, the fight continues. I am well aware that had this death happened to an unknown tourist the Gonzalez family would have got away with it.

But they reckoned without all of us and in helping Kirsty, we will be bringing some justice Mexico.

Please send our new postcards and letters in their hundreds from across the world.

I would like to thank Fred Shortland for his guidance, Philip Rambow, John Dalby, Charlie Dickins, Claire Iden and Alan Officer. Also Georgia Rambow for her help in the school holidays over the last six years.

My thanks go to Bono for his support and to Kirsty's old friends, the Pogues.Wherever they play, the campaign is mentioned.

Thank you all for your letters of support. We know we are having an effect. We hope that this year will see a satisfactory resolution.

My very best wishes,
Jean MacColl.

Postcard to the President

December 2006: The postcards (leaflets really) have been updated for the new government in México, please try to print it off and mail it. If you prefer you may request copies of the cards ready to fill in and post - send an email to info@justiceforkirsty.org and we'll get you sorted. Just tell us how many you will realistically be able to get filled in and sent and we'll ship you a bundle.

View or (right click to) download the leaflet in PDF format (download the free Acrobat Reader) by selecting the following links: Leaflet (details) and Leaflet (front). If you can print them back to back on light card you will have your own leaflet. You could also send a simple printout in an envelope. Every little can help! The address to send these cards to is

FELIPE DE JESÚS CALDERÓN HINOJOSA
Presidente de la República
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, DISTRITO FEDERAL,
México

Lexington Research Institute raising JFK case

3 November 2006

Carl Horowitz writes of the campaign at vdare.com with his own commentary and conclusions relating to the case.

Soho Square fans reunion on 8th October

1 November 2006

The annual meeting of Kirsty's fans, friends and family took place as usual on the Sunday closest to Kirsty's birthday, this year it was the 8th of October.

Jean and her campaign team were once again present in the square to keep the fans updated with the latest news about the campaign's progress. Afterwards it was on with the guitars and down with the pints and red wine as usual also!

This year our lawyer from Mexico, Demetrio Guerra, flew over to join in our celebration of Kirsty's birthday. He gave a short update of our progress and was given a great welcome.

Folk & Blues Festival in Croydon

14 July 2006

The Justice for Kirsty Campaign will benefit from the 16th Folk & Blues Festival at Ruskin House Club Gardens in Croydon on Saturday, July 22. The fun starts at 1pm and continues until 11pm. Details from Gary and Tina Davis on 01737 553493.

Kirsty's ashes scattered in Cuba

8 May 2006

My  close family and friends have just returned from Cuba, where Kirsty's ashes were scattered off the coast of Havana at her sons' request. This was a place were she found great musical inspiration and enjoyed the warmth and friendliness of fellow musicians and the Cuban people.

It was a very simple ceremony and Omar Puente, Cuban violinist and friend, played the piece he had especially composed for Kirsty. During the outward journey, the boat was accompanied by a flying fish.  Normally these fish are only seen much further out to sea and even Omar had not seen one before. You will remember that this fish was the logo on Kirsty's last CD. We all felt that she was with us.

We quietly said our farewells and threw flowers over the blue water.  There were a few tears as we hugged each other. We were all quiet as we headed back. Bright sun, blue sky, a gentle breeze and the only sound the lapping of the water against the boat helped us to understand Kirsty's love of this island.

A gold disc was presented to the Kirsty MacColl Library of the Music School. It is being renovated prior to the new intake of students.

It was a very short visit but everyone found time to explore the old city and hear some local music.

And now, we continue the struggle.  You will see from the earlier news that we have had a small success but we still have a long way to go.

With best wishes to you all,

Jean MacColl

Federal Prosecutor in Cozumel found liable for breach of Authority.

6 May 2006

The Office of Public Affairs for the Federal Government of Mexico have advised our lawyer that Emilio Cortez Ramirez, the Federal Prosecutor in Cozumel who Jean and the Campaign team filed new evidence with during the visit in March 2004 has been found liable for breach of authority for failure to register our appeal and the proceedings as formal criminal investigations. The office of the Attorney General has been ordered to apply administrative penalties and fine the prosecutor who we understand has been removed from his former post. See the original document.

Whilst this ruling may not have a direct impact on the outcome of the ongoing criminal investigations it does confirm that this Federal Prosecutor did not follow correct procedures, acted improperly and impeded our lawyer.

This is a direct result of the complaints filed by Jean and Louis with our lawyer and Fred Shortland at the Office of the Attorney General on their last visit to Mexico in June 2005

This ruling strengthens our position with regard to other outstanding issues before the Office of the Attorney General that have still not been resolved and should the case be filed with the Inter American Commission of Human Rights the negligence of the prosecutor has been clearly confirmed.

Whilst this is a step in the right direction we still await Justice!

Progress on the criminal investigation is unacceptably slow despite numerous promises by the Office of the Attorney Generals Office that matters would be resolved by the end of last year. How much longer do we have to wait? Justice for Kirsty is long overdue!

Bono dedicates song to Kirsty in Monterrey, government reaction

13 February 2006

The Mexican government promised justice for British pop singer Kirsty MacColl today the night after U2 dedicated a song to her ("I still haven't found what I'm looking for") in a concert in the Mexican city of Monterrey. Ruben Aguilar, spokesman for President Vicente Fox, said that federal investigators will soon resolve the case of MacColl, who was killed by a power boat whilst scuba diving in the Caribbean resort of Cozumel in December 2000. "The investigation has to offer results," Aguilar said in a news conference. "The federal government is following this situation."

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