MOWED down by a reckless speedboat driver as she swam in the ocean with her two beloved sons, Kirsty MacColl’s life was cruelly cut short in a holiday tragedy riddled with troubling questions.
Now, 25 years on from the accident that shocked the world, the Fairytale of New York singer’s ex-husband has opened up to The Sun on why he is convinced of a harrowing cover-up after rushing to the scene – and who he thinks is really to blame.
Kirsty MacColl’s life was tragically cut short when she was hit by a speedboat while on holidayCredit: Alamy
The singer and Shane MacGowan scored a top Christmas hit with Fairytale of New YorkCredit: Getty
Her former husband Steve Lillywhite has remixed a new version of the track 25 years on from her deathCredit: 21083087
A new live version of the raucous track, which was a collaboration between songwriter Kirsty and the Pogues, has been released for the festive season.
It was remixed by Kirsty’s former husband, the legendary producer Steve Lillywhite.
He had split from the singer at the time of the tragedy but rushed to the scene in Mexico from the United States to look after the two sons he shared with her.
Kirsty and her eldest son, Jamie Lillywhite, were just surfacing from a scuba dive when they were both struck by the propeller of a speedboat, which is alleged to have been travelling too fast for the protected area.
There have been claims of a cover-up about who was really behind the wheel of the boat and who was ultimately responsible for the much-loved singer’s death at the age of just 41.
It is also two years since Pogues singer Shane MacGowan died aged 65 just before Christmas from a longstanding illness.
Six-time Grammy award-winner Steve, 70, tells The Sun: “It’s a difficult time for me and the kids.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling because when you hear Fairytale, it does give you a good feeling. It makes you think of Christmas and everything.
“And you know, we can’t bring Kirsty or Shane back, but it also reminds us of those people who have passed. They both died near Christmas. That’s the weird thing.”
Kirsty, who had a hit with There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis in 1981, married U2 producer Steve three years later.
He produced her biggest hit Fairytale of New York in 1987 and it went to number two in the charts, growing in popularity every festive season after that.
The couple, who had two children Jamie, now 40 and Louis, 39, got divorced in 1997 but remained close for the sake of their kids.
Father-of-four Steve says: “We had two children. And whenever you have children, you know, you have a connection for life.
“So we were always talking regarding the kids and planning with them and stuff like that.”
Terrifying disaster
After presenting a BBC radio show in Cuba in December 2000, Kirsty decided to head to Cozumel in Mexico for a break with her two boys, who were then aged 15 and 14.
They went down to the spectacular Chankanaab reef, which is in the National Marine Park.
Speedboats were restricted from the area because it was designated for scuba diving, so the family should have been safe.
Kirsty was killed while on holiday on the Mexican island of Cozumel with her two boysCredit: Corbis
Steve and Kirsty divorced in 1997 but stayed close for the sake of their kidsCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Fairytale of New York remains one of the best-loved Christmas songs
Just as Kirsty emerged from the dive with the two boys, a powerful 31ft motorboat came towards them.
She saw it in time to bravely try to push Louis and Jamie out of the way, but the propellers struck Kirsty, killing her instantly.
Jamie suffered minor injuries, with his oxygen tank taking the brunt of the impact, and Louis was physically unscathed.
Former restaurant owner Louis said: “It was such a traumatic thing and a lot of what happened is still a blur to me.
“What I can say is it was really grim. I still have flashbacks. It was and is so graphic.”
They said that it was a young kid driving… but no one believes that
Steve
Jamie, who was Ellie Goulding’s manager, has never spoken publicly about what he witnessed.
Steve says: “Jamie’s scuba tank was damaged, so it was a matter of inches for him.”
The first person who was called in the wake of the horrific accident was Steve.
Kirsty had been on holiday with her musician boyfriend James Knight, who was aged just 26 at the time and found himself caught up in this terrible tragedy.
Steve continues: “I went down and, you know, her boyfriend was a fair bit younger. So, poor boy, that was very sad.”
Fight for truth
In the confusion after the crash, it wasn’t entirely clear what had happened.
The speedboat was owned by the billionaire Mexican businessman Guillermo González Nova and some locals claimed that he’d been at the helm of the vessel.
But one of his employees, Jose Cen Yam, aged 26 at the time of the crash, insisted he’d been at the wheel – even though he didn’t have a licence for such a powerful boat.
Yam was convicted of culpable homicide in 2003 and was handed a two years-and-ten-months jail sentence, which he avoided by paying a fine of just £61.
Kirsty bravely pushed her son Louis out of the way of the boatCredit: Mirrorpix
The speedboat was owned by billionaire Guillermo Gonzalez NovaCredit: Reuters
In his defence in court, he claimed he was only driving at one knot, a quarter of the four-knot speed limit, and that Kirsty had emerged outside of the protected zone.
Steve alleges: “They said that it was a young kid driving, but no one believes that.
“I think they just didn’t want to have an enormous lawsuit because he was one of the richest guys in Mexico.”
A Justice for Kirsty campaign, organised by her elderly mother Jean Newlove and backed by friends such as U2 singer Bono, attempted to organise judicial appeals.
She hired private detectives to look into the case, who pointed out that if the boat had been sailing at one knot then the divers could have pushed it out of the way.
But Nova died aged 92 in 2009 and in the same year Jean ended the official bid for justice.
Jean, who passed away in 2017 aged 94, said at the time: “This does not mean I am giving up. If anything turned up, I’d be there like a shot. Any chink in his armour.”
It was never about money… it was about someone taking responsibility
Steve
Steve recalls: “The campaign was basically really being pushed by Kirsty’s mum. And when she decided that there was not really any hope, and she was old, it ended.
“I think you just have to sometimes accept that life isn’t fair, and you have to move on.”
Louis thinks that by keeping the case in the headlines, it did at least help let others know about the dangers.
He said: “I think we managed to raise awareness and, if it saved just one person, I am happy about that, but what we would have liked was some accountability.
“It was never about money, it was about someone taking responsibility.”
Bittersweet legacy
The family have chosen to celebrate Kirsty’s life and this year will be no different.
Steve, who produced the original Fairytale of New York single and recorded the live version as well, never tires of hearing the song.
Steve worked with some of the biggest names in music like U2 and has won six Grammy AwardsCredit: x/Sillywhite
The Pogues rerecorded their hit song before sending it to SteveCredit: Getty – Contributor
The Pogues, who continued touring despite Shane’s death, are famous for their wild live performances.
The band sent Steve the new version prior to his re-release and asked him if they thought it was good enough.
He says: “I went, well, the performance is great, but there is a lot of things that could be better on the recording.”
Using modern technology he was able to clean up the track.
Steve says: “It’s a very spunky version of the song.”
Shane was known for his fast living, surviving heroin addiction and falling out of a speeding car on a motorway.
Who is Steve Lillywhite?
STEVE Lillywhite has worked with some of the biggest names in the field.
He put U2 on the road to fame and has worked with the Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, Liam Gallagher‘s post-Oasis band Beady Eye and many more.
Born March 15, 1955, in Surrey, he began his career in 1977.
He started off as a bass player when he was 16 years old, before he got a job in a studio.
He’s been credited on over 500 records and collaborated with dozens of artists including Siouxsie and the Banshees, Simple Minds, Peter Gabriel, Morrissey, and The Killers.
Steve has also won six Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical in 2006.
In 2012, he was made a Commander of the Order of The British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to music.
Steve admits he was unable to keep up with the heavy-drinking Irishman.
He smiles: “Shane was a complete one-off. I’ve worked with some of the crazier people in the music business.
“But he was just so great, such a bohemian and I’m far too middle-class to live that sort of lifestyle. A great man and a great songwriter.”
Louis, who lives in the UK, is going to spend Christmas in Bali with Steve, where he has resided for several years.
Steve is pleased the new track has been timed for the anniversary of Kirsty’s death.
He concludes: “It’s 25 years since she had her accident. It’s poignant.”
