‘Whitey’ would never have touted; he’s Irish, court told

James ‘Whitey’ Bulger - until his recent arrest one of the most wanted men in the United States and the inspiration for Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Departed’ - is accused of involvement in 19 murders, whilst working as an FBI informant.

But defence lawyer JW carney said he would never have acted as an informer because he was Irish.

“James Bulger is of Irish descent. The worst thing an Irish person could consider doing is becoming an informant because of the history of the Troubles in Ireland. That was first and foremost why James Bulger was never an informant against people.”

Bulger is suspected of involvement in a gun-running escapade in 1984.

One of his alleged murder victims, John McIntyre, was a former associate who in 1984 helped sail the Valhalla across the Atlantic to rendezvous with the Irish trawler, the Marita Anne.

Over 1million dollars worth of guns - bound for the IRA - were transferred to the trawler. The Valhalla returned to Boston but no incriminating evidence was discovered when ti was searched by the FBI.

The Garda Síochána, however, seized the Marita Anne on a tip off from IRA informer Sean O’Callaghan.