Now, I'm not normally one for peddling conspiracy-theories. Particularly those relating to the death of Diana Spencer in 1997 in a Paris car crash. Of her demise, one need only ask the question: Cui Bono? Irritant though she might have been to her former husband's family, it is hard to imagine her mother-in-law demanding to be "rid of this turbulent princess". And as for the latest suggestion that she was silenced before she could declare her, no doubt extremely influential, support for the Palestinian cause: Yeah. Whatever.
However, when it comes to a disgraced Irish politician, who had hitherto refused to reveal to corruption tribunals the extent of his various murky dealings and the identity of his benefactors, to the point of serving time in jail for contempt of court, meeting his doom in a late night car crash, I don't feel quite so confident ruling out foul play. I would have thought that Moscow would prove a considerably more congenial place to arrange a fatal car crash than Paris and, when it comes to who benefits, as the Irish Examiner puts it:
Suggestions are now being made that the Mahon Tribunal will never get to the root of the problems, because Lawlor is likely to take many secrets with him to his grave.
Indeed, from the point of view of certain individuals Lawlor does seem to make a cadaver eccellente.
Indeed, from the point of view of certain individuals Lawlor does seem to make a cadaver eccellente.
Of course, Frank, if you like conspiracy theories, how do we really know Lawlor is dead? If anyone had an incentive to stage his death, it's Lawlor. And if you had to choose a place to do it, wouldn't it be Moscow? I mean terrorists intent on killing hundreds of Russian citizens can buy off the police, surely arranging a few coppers to tell a few porkies about a dead Irish politician would be chicken feed comapared with that.
Posted by: John | October 26, 2005 at 11:20 AM
Have you seen one photograph of the car Lawlor was traveling in? I haven't, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been published.
Posted by: John | October 26, 2005 at 11:21 AM
I've thought for the longest time that Lawlor's unwillingness to produce the records for his phase of the tribunal was born more from unease than stubbornness...almost as if he had something to fear from full disclosure. My bonkersest pet theory (and one easily disproved) was involvement with the mafiya and just look it at where the poor ol' bollo met his Maker....
Posted by: Neil | October 26, 2005 at 11:50 AM
Indeed, and his nickname used to be Lord Lucan, maybe for more than one reason...
Posted by: Frank McGahon | October 26, 2005 at 11:51 AM
So, Diana Spencer getting knocked off, with the-car-that-did-it never being found and a British coroner's report yet to be made is "yeah. whatever.", but in the next breath you're going to insinuate that Bertie did Lawlor in?
I thought at first that this post was intendend to be tongue-in-cheek, but having read the comments here and over at Irish Eagle I'm now not so sure.
Posted by: EWI | October 27, 2005 at 12:16 AM
It wasn't exactly Bertie I had in mind.
Posted by: Frank McGahon | October 27, 2005 at 08:47 AM