Kirsty MacColl’s ex-husband Steve Lillywhite has claimed that her death was part of a cover-up by ‘one of the richest guys in Mexico’.
The Fairytale of New York singer aged 41 in 2000 after a tragic accident while on holiday in Mexico with her then two teenage sons, Jamie and Louis, and partner James Knight.
The singer was scuba diving while on holiday on Conzumal Island when she took part in a scuba diving trip off the coast with a qualified instructor.
The area should have been safe for divers with boats banned from entering the waters, but a 10-metre powerboat entered the waters and hit MacColl.
It was reported that she protected her son in her final moments, but died instantly on impact as the boat’s propeller hit her with such force that reports claimed ‘her body nearly sliced in half.’
The boat was owned by Guillermo Conzalez Nova, a Mexican supermarket magnate who was on board the boat with his family.
One of Nova’s employees, a then 26-year-old called Jose Cen Yam, said that he was steering the boat at the time, despite not having a license for the vehicle. However, witness accounts stated that this wasn’t the case, and the boat was travelling faster than Nova claimed.
Cen Yam was found guilty of culpable homicide for his role in Kirsty’s death and was sentenced to just under three years in prison; however, he never served a day and instead paid 1034 pesos (about £40) to the Mexican government and $2150 (£1660) to Kirsty’s family.
Speaking to The Sun, MacColl’s ex-husband and father of her children, Steve Lillywhite, claimed that her death was part of a cover-up, something her family has claimed for years following her death.
‘They said that it was a young kid driving, but no one believes that,’ he told the outlet.
‘I think they just didn’t want to have an enormous lawsuit because he was one of the richest guys in Mexico.’
Lillywhite continued that Christmas is a particularly hard time for their family, as MacColl’s most beloved song with The Pogues is played everywhere.
‘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.’
He added that they are also reminded of Shane McGowan, lead singer of the Pogues, who died in 2023
‘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.’
Following the singer’s death, MacColl’s mother, Jean Newlove, set up a Justice for Kirsty campaign, supported by friends including U2 icon Bono.
Before she died in 2017, she was clear that she also believed González Nova was responsible.
‘He 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’, she said.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
