Whitey Bulger says he is PLEASED after being found guilty of 11 murders and racketeering: Tears of victims' families as notorious Boston mobster is told he will die in prison

The 83-year-old mobster faces a maximum sentence of life in prison

Family members of Bulger's victims held hands and wept in the Boston courtroom on Monday

Bulger gave a thumbs-up to family members as he left the courtroom



He is due to be sentenced on November 13



James 'Whitey' Bulger today has been found guilty of 11 murders, conspiracy, narcotics and racketeering as the jury returned a verdict that should see him die in prison.

Bulger's defense attorneys said outside court on Monday that their client was 'pleased' with the verdict - as it was important to the notorious mobster that government corruption in the case be exposed.



For many families who suspect that Bulger was behind the killing of their relatives, it was a day of deep disappointment and sorrow as jurors could not p rove his involvement in seven murders or agree on one other killing.

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Justice is served: Mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger (front right) listens to the verdict in his murder and racketeering trial as seen in this courtroom drawing in Boston on August 12

In the murders of Deborah Hussey, Edward Connors, Paul McGonagle, John McIntyre, Thomas King, Arthur Barrett, Roger Wheeler, Brian Halloran, Michael Donahue, John Callahan and Richie Castucci, Bulger was found guilty.

However the jury could not prove from the evidence that he was behind the murders of Michael Milano, Al Plummer, William O'Brien, James O'Toole, Al Notorangeli, James Sousa and Francis Leonard.

In the murder of Debra Davis, the jury returned a verdict of no finding.



Guilty: James 'Whitey' Bulger was found to have killed 11 of the 19 people he had been accused of

Many family members of Bulger's victims held hands and wept in the Boston federal courtroom as the verdicts were read out.



Bulger had no reaction while the long list of crimes, which occurred in the 1970s and 80s in Boston, was read out.



Following the verdict, Bulger gave a 'thumbs up’ to his family and pointed at them as he left court. His flippant action caused a woman in the victims' row to yell out.

The judge has set aside three days for the sentencing of Bulger from November 13.

Following the verdict, defense lawyer Jay Carney said that Bulger 'knew as soon as he was arrested that he would die (in prison) or on a guerney' - referring to death by lethal injection.

However Carney did say that Bulger would be appealing the verdict.



Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Tommy Donahue, son of Michael Donahue, said: 'I'm pleased for the verdict for my father's murder of course I am but it's mixed emotions.'

Tommy was ten years old when his father Michael was shot when he gave a ride home to Brian Halloran on whom a hit had been ordered.

Mr Donahue added: 'My heart breaks for the other families. I know what their pain is like.

I've lived with it for 31 years.

'There is a joy without a doubt in having someone found guilty for my father's killing.

'Joy is a difficult word but it's there. It's overwhelming. Finally after all these years.'



Fate sealed: In this courtroom sketch, Bulger, second from right, stands with defense attorneys as the jury submits its verdicts before Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler

Emotional day: Steve Davis, brother of alleged Bulger victim Debra Davis, gets a hug before he speaks to media outside the federal courthouse in Boston. The jury could not agree that Whitey played a role in his sister's death

Coping with the past: Steve Davis breaks down outside Boston federal court after a not proven verdict was returned on his sister's killing Justice at last: Tommy Donahue, son of murdered Michael Donahue, holds his godson following Bulger being found guilty over his father's death

Defense Attorney Hank Brennan said: ‘I understand there is disappointment for some of the families. ‘Now is a tough time to comment there’s a need for some reflection perhaps and to look at how the government did things, has done things in the past. ‘I hope this will be a catalyst for change. What could have been done to stop this happening at the start? ‘What could have been done to avoid families losing their loved ones like this in the first place?' U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz described the verdict as 'a day of reckoning for Bulger'. She said: 'This has been a long time coming So many people's lives were so terrilbly harmed and today's conviction does not altar that point and it doesn't lessen it however we hope that they find some degree of comfort in the fact that today has come and Bulger is being held accountable for his horrific crime.' Support: John 'Jackie' Bulger, right, leaves federal court in Boston after a jury found his brother, Whitey Bulger guilty of 11 murders Sense of peace: Patricia Donahue, widow of victim Michael Donahue, leaves court after Bulger was found guilty of her husband's murder after three decades Deep sorrow: William O'Brien Jr., son of William O'Brien, who was killed in a hail of gunfire in south Boston in 1973. Bulger was not proven to be behind his father's murder She admitted that the corrupt actions and inaction of Federal Agents had not only allowed Bulger to commit his crimes but to 'slip away when honest law enforcement was closing in'. On count one of racketeering conspiracy, the 83-year-old mobster was found guilty and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

On the second count of racketeering substantive offense, Bulger was found guilty.

Although Bulger is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison, there are many crimes for which Bulger is expected to never be held accountable.

Tom Foley, former Head of Massachusetts State Police said: 'It's a very complicated case. The government was in partnership with organized crime. That's not a good place to be.

'There's a lot of pain still out there. A good part of it has been laid to rest but will it ever be really done? I don't know.' The defense: Attorneys JW Carney (left) and Hank Brennan (right) said their client was 'pleased' with the verdict Waiting for justice: Crowds of people gather outside the Boston courtroom to await the verdict against notorious mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger

He was one of the nation's most wanted fugitives after fleeing Boston in 1994 before his indictment. He was captured in Santa Monica in 2011.

Jurors in the racketeering trial came back after a fifth day of deliberations on Monday at federal court in Boston.

They had mulled over the charges against the reputed crime boss for around 28 hours without reaching a verdict.

The verdict brought to an end a trial lasting two months during which around 70 of the list of 82 witnesses were called and 800 exhibits submitted as evidence.

For the families of victims, present throughout the trial, the last few days of waiting have proved the most difficult.

JUSTICE IS SERVED: THE PROVEN VICTIMS OF JAMES 'WHITEY' BULGER

Paul McGonagle, 1974: A rival gang member who was shot in the back seat of a car .

Edward Connors, 1975: Witnessed a killing, shot because Bulger’s gang feared he would talk. Thomas King, 1975: Rival gangster shot in back of the head, buried under the Neponset River Bridge in Quincy.

Richard Castucci, 1976: Nightclub owner killed because Bulger believed he was an informant.

Roger Wheeler, 1981: Owner of World Jai Alai, suspected Bulger’s group of skimming money from the business, shot in between the eyes at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, country club. Martorano testified that he did the shooting. Brutal killing: Deborah Hussey was strangled by Bulger Brian Halloran, 1982: An FBI informant who was talking to the FBI about Bulger’s involvement in Wheeler’s killing, shot in a hail of gunfire as he left a South Boston restaurant. Bulger is accused of being one of two triggermen.

Michael Donahue, 1982: A neighbor of Halloran’s who offered to give him a ride home, killed when Bulger and another man opened fire on Donahue’s car.

John Callahan, 1982: Former president of World Jai Alai. Bulger feared he wouldn’t hold up in questioned in Wheeler’s death. Ex-hit man John Mortorano, a close friend of Callahan’s, testified that he shot Callahan in the back of the head.

Arthur “Bucky” Barrett, 1983: Alleged jewel thief and bank robber. Bulger chained him to a chair, got him to tell him where he had cash hidden, then shot him in the head.

John McIntyre, 1984: Quincy fisherman, Bulger chained him to a chair and interrogated him about whether he was talking to authorities. Bulger is accused of shooting him in the head.

Deborah Hussey, 1985: Daughter of Flemmi’s longtime live-in girlfriend, Marion Hussey. Flemmi testified that Bulger strangled her because she was using drugs and dropping their names when she got in trouble.



Each jury query has been agony for the relatives waiting in the courtroom cafeteria or on the benches outside Court 11, bringing the false hope of a verdict and an end.

But of the 33 counts of racketeering and 19 murder indictments with which Bulger was charged it was always number 14 that mattered most to Steve Davis.

Speaking to MailOnline at the close of last week, exhausted, he said simply: ‘That’s my sister’s number.’

Mr Davis’s sister, Debbie, was 26 when she was disappeared in 1981. Her body went undiscovered until 2000 when she was dug out of the marsh at Neponset River along with several other Bulger victims to whom henchman turned State’s witness Kevin Weeks led law enforcement.

Gotcha: Bulger, who escaped prosecution for 16 years was captured in Santa Monica in 2011

NOT PROVEN: THE KILLINGS WHICH THE JURY COULD NOT PIN ON BULGER

Michael Milano, 1973: A bartender killed in a hail of gunfire, had a similar Mercedes-Benz and was mistaken for the target of the shooting, Al 'Indian Al' Notarangeli. Former hit man John Martorano testified that he shot Milano in a case of mistaken identity. Not proven: Michael Milano, with his mother, was killed in a case of mistaken identity in 1973 Al Plummer, 1973: Member of a rival gang, killed as he drove in Boston’s North End. Martorano testified that he killed Plummer by mistake as the gang tried to kill Notarangeli. William O’Brien, 1973: Member of a rival gang, killed in a hail of gunfire as he drove in South Boston.

James 'Spike' O’Toole, 1973: Shot to death as he stood behind a mailbox because he had shot and wounded the brother of Flemmi’s partner, Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi.

Al 'Indian Al' Notarangeli, 1974: Rival gang leader, shot to death after several failed attempts. James Sousa, 1974: Participated with Bulger in a botched robbery of a dentist, was killed because Bulger worried he would talk. Francis 'Buddy' Leonard, 1975: Friend of King’s, shot in head. Bulger then told people that King had killed Leonard.

Debbie was dating Stephen ‘the Rifleman’ Flemmi, a killer and cohort of Bulger at the time but had been about to leave him for another man.

But she knew too much. And so instead she was lured to her death, strangled and disposed of – her hands and feet cut off, her teeth smashed to make identifying her body more difficult.

Mr Davis has been present for every single day of the trial.

NO FINDING: WHAT DID HAPPEN TO TEENAGER DEBRA DAVIS?

Debra Davis (pictured) was the girlfriend of Stephen 'The Rifleman' Flemmi, a violent accomplice of Bulger. She was strangled aged 16 in 1981. Flemmi testified that Bulger killed the teenager because she knew they were both FBI informants. Bulger’s lawyer said Flemmi had a stronger motive to kill her because she was leaving him for another man.

In the murder of Miss Davis, the jury returned a verdict of no finding on Monday.

He admitted the strain had almost been too great to bear: ‘It’s been physical and mental pain. And waiting for the verdict has been the worst of it.’

He said: ‘There is so much dirt to clean up. And you just want it to be done. Finish it up and move on.’



Mr Davis who had several emotional outburst in the highly charged, high profile trial said he did not regret his behavior in court: ‘If I could go back over the past few weeks I wouldn’t change anything.

‘If I could go back further I would change everything. I would go back to the day before it happened. I would go back to September 16, 1981 and I would grab my sister and I would get her out of there.

Over the years, he said, he had suffered ‘shame and guilt’ for not being able to save his sister and for not acting across all those years during which she was officially missing though presumed dead.

He explained: ‘I had a sense. I knew something was wrong. I should have killed Flemmi when I had the chance. I would have been in prison for a life sentence but you know what? I’d have been out by now.’

But even this verdict does not bring the Whitey Bulger saga to an absolute end. It will continue to trouble the victims' families and the courtrooms of Boston.



The corruption exposed during those dark days when Bulger ran the Winter Hill Gang is not an issue set to simply go away – not if Patricia Donahoe and her faily have anything to do with it.

Mrs Donahue and her sons have also been in court each day. Her husband, Michael, father to sons Tommy, Michael and Sean, was shot in 1982.

He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. He met Brian Halloran at a pub the night and agreed to give him a ride home not knowing that a hit was out on Halloran after corrupt FBI officer John Connolly tipped off Bulger that Halloran had ‘ratted him out'.

'THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORGANIZED CRIME. THAT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE': TRIAL EXPOSES INGRAINED CORRUPTION

The corruption exposed by the James 'Whitey' Bulger trial is a fraction of the government criminality that allowed the bob moss to run his criminal empire and evade justice for three decades. Speaking to MailOnline former Head of Massachusetts State Police Colonel Superintendent Thomas Foley - the architect of the investigation that led to this day said: 'The government was in partnership with organised crime.

'That's not a good place to be. There's a lot of pain still out there. A good part of it has been laid to rest but will it ever really be done with? I don't know.'

He added: 'Today wasn't the place to put the government on trial - this courtroom was about getting that guy off the street and that's happened.'

But he, along with attorneys for both prosecution and defense, have admitted that 'mistakes were made' and that expressed a hope that 'lessons have been learned.'

Earlier at the doors of the Boston Court House, where this high profile case has played out over the past two months, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz praised the 'honest law enforcement officers' who had finally brought Bulger to justice. She spoke in terms of victory and referred to this as 'Bulger's day of reckoning'. But she admitted that it was the corrupt actions and inactions of Federal and State agents entrusted with upholding the law who allowed Bulger's empire to floursih with all the pain and violence that entailed and allowed the crime boss to 'slip away when honest law enforcement was closing in.' Standing alongside the US Attorney, State Police Col. Timothy P Alben commended his officers for the work they had done in bringing Bulger to the day that, 'many thought would never come.'

But he too was forced to concede that the case had shed light on 'deplorable behaviour among those in positions of trust.'

Defense Attorney Hank Brennan told MailOnline that he hoped the case 'would serve as a catalyst' for exposing the true extent of the corruption that lay at the heart of Bulger's crime network.

As an informant for corrupt FBI agent John Connolly allegedly working in tandem with FBI agent John Morris, Bulger committed crimes with impunity and received tip offs that led to him ordering hits on gangsters co-operating with law enforcement.

That unholy trinity led to the murder of Mrs Patricia Donahue's husband, Michael - a count on which Bulger was today convicted.

The Donahues are currently fighting a civil case for the role, they allege, the FBI played in setting up and then covering up Michael's murder.

Speaking after the verdict Mrs Donahue's son, Tommy said that there was 'some joy' in knowing that someone was found guilty of his father's killing.

He said: 'It's mixed feelings thought. My heart breaks for the families [who didn't get convictions]. I know what that pain is like. I've lived with it for 31 years.'

Today, he said, the emotions were 'overwhelming.'

Mr Donahue was ten years old when his father was shot after he gave Brian Halloran a ride home from a pub one night. Halloran had sought the FBI's protection following a decision to speak against Bulger.

FBI agent John Morris (who was later made Head of the agency's Corrpution department in Boston) leaked the information to John Conolly, who in turn told Bulger and a hit was ordered. Mr Donahue was simply collateral damage to Bulger. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Donahue family have fought for years to bring a case against the corrupt FBI agents who sought to pin the crime on another man though, as Mr Donahoe said at the courthouse: 'They knew it was Whitey's doing. John Conolly was the arresting officer and he told us, "This is the man who killed your father." 'And for years we believed him.'

Last September a court ruled that the family can bring their case to court. For them and for many others involved in the Bulger saga, today does not mark the end of the road despite the fact that Bulger will end his days in jail. Mrs Donahue said: 'John Morris apologized to me in court. His words were 30 years too late.'

She added: 'How is it justice? From 1982 to 1999 the truth about my husband's murder was covered up. That's a long time not to have any answers.' For Mrs Donahue today was a case of 'one down, two to go,' in terms of targets at which she and her family are taking aim as the legal battle now moves from putting Bulger behind bars to bringing to justice the law enforcement officers who lined their pockets and aided and abetted the Winter Hill Gang boss in his reign of terror in South Boston.



Justice caught up with him: FBI photos which were released of Bulger during his 16 years on the run

Connolly was, in turn, allegedly fed the information by fellow FBI agent John Morris.

Speaking to MailOnline Mrs Donahue said: ‘Whitey was the one that pulled the trigger but the government knew what was happening.'

The family are now pursuing a civil case against the government for the part the FBI allegedly played in concealing the truth behind her husband’s murder.

Ten years ago an earlier attempt to sue the government was thrown out on a technicality but a last September a judge ruled that the family can sue the FBI agents who protected Bulger.

Former agent John Morris testified in the trial and directed an apology from the stand to Mrs Donahue and her family .

He said: ‘Not a day goes by that I don’t pray God gives you blessing and comfort for the pain. I want to express my sincere apologies for the things I did and I didn’t do. I do not ask for forgiveness – that would be asking too much.’

JAMES 'WHITEY' BULGER: BREAKDOWN OF THE VERDICT

COUNT ONE: Racketeering Conspiracy - Guilty

COUNT TWO: Racketeering Substantive Offense - Guilty If you find James J. Bulger guilty as to Count 2, please indicate which alleged Racketeering Acts you unanimously find that the government has proven beyond a reasonable doubt: RACKETEERING ACT NO. 1: Conspiracy to murder members of the Notorangeli Group - Not proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 2: Murder of Michael Milano - Not proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 3: Murder of Al Plummer - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO.4 : Murder of William O'Brien - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 5: Murder of James O'Toole - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 6: Murder of Al Notorangeli - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 7A: Conspiracy to murder James Sousa - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 7B: Murder of James Sousa - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 8: Murder of Paul McGonagle - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 9: Murder of Edward Connors - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 10 A: Conspiracy to murder Thomas King - Not Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 10B: Murder of Thomas King - Not Proved

RACKETEERING ACT NO. 11: Murder of Francis 'Buddy' Leonard - Not Proved

RACKETEERING ACT NO. 12: Murder of Richard Castucci - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 13A : Conspiracy to murder Roger Wheeler - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 13B: Murder of Roger Wheeler - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 14: Murder of Debra Davis - No Finding RACKETEERING ACT NO. 15: Murder of Brian Halloran - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 16: Murder of Michael Donahue - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 17A: Conspiracy to murder John Callahan - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 17B: Murder of John Callahan - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 18: Murder of Arthur 'Bucky' Barrett - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 19: Murder of John McIntyre - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 20: Murder of Deborah Hussey - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 21: Extortion conspiracy: 'Rent' - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 22: Extortion of Richard O'Brien - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 23: Extortion of Kevin Hayes - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 24: Extortion conspiracy: 'Fines' - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 25: Extortion of Michael Solimando - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 26: Extortion of Stephen Rakes and Julie Rakes - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 27: Extortion of Richard Bucheri - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 28: Extortion of Raymond Slinger Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 29: Narcotics distribution conspiracy - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 30: (Concealment) money laundering conspiracy - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 31: (Concealment) money laundering: Sale of 295 Old Colony Ave., South Boston, Massachusetts - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 32(A): (Concealment) money laundering - Proved RACKETEERING ACTS NO. 32(B)- 32(PPP): (Concealment) money laundering (mortgage payments) - Proved RACKETEERING ACT NO. 33:(Concealment or promotion) money laundering (transfer of $10,000 to John Martorano) - Proved

Reign of terror: Bulger as a young man. He was yesterday found guilty of 11 murders

But for Mrs Donahue, a charming and courteous woman: ‘His words were 30 years too late.’

She added: ‘This has been a very long haul for us. It’s been a nightmare.’

Her son Tommy still seething with anger that has not diminished over the years, added; ‘The government set up the murder and covered it up for a three decades. That’s a long time not to have any answers.

‘John Connolly, the FBI agent who we now know leaked the information to Whitey was the arresting agent in 1986 when they took in a guy called Jimmy Flynn for my father’s murder.

‘They very nearly convicted him. Connolly arrested him, knowing all the time that Whitey was the killer because he was the guy who leaked the information to him.’

Mrs Donahue said: ’My husband was an innocent victim. Today this is some justice 30 years later but there are still targets that have eluded us for all these years and it’s not over for us yet.’

She added: ‘I’m so tired of going to court. All I really want is for the government to apologise and to admit they were wrong.

‘Where is the justice when the FBI officers who had deals with Bulger and who caused my husband’s death are drawing their pensions and walking around free on the streets?’

But she said: ‘It does help to know that somebody is paying for his murder now.’

Lock-down: The motorcade carrying defendant Bulger leaves federal court in Boston as the jury went to deliberate on the 32 charges against him

For Steve Davis the end of this trial is the beginning of something close to moving on.

But for that process to be as complete as it can be he wants Bulger’s legend to end along with his freedom.

He said: ‘What’s come out in court…this guy is no gangster. He’s a dirty son of a b*** rat.

‘He wants to go down like John Gotti or Al Capone. But he’s nothing like them. They went down proud, true to who they were. Bulger’s nothing, he’s a piece of dirt.

‘This guy was ratting from the get go.’

In a couple of years, he hoped, most people will barely remember his name on the street.

But to him he said: ‘It’s tattooed on my brain and in my heart. I can’t get rid of that. Even if I tried the image would be there in a scar

‘That’s what he’s like – he’s the scar, always there.

‘You can’t close this up. WE have to live with the suffering and the pain. He won. He gets to walk around. He gets to talk to his brothers and his nieces.