‘It was a cover up’: Kirsty MacColl’s ex-husband speaks out 25 years on from Fairytale of New York singer’s death… and says she was ‘killed by speedboat driven by the richest man in Mexico’

It’s been 25 years since Fairytale of New York singer Kirsty MacColl tragically died at the hands of a speedboat driver in a memorable ocean crash.

A quarter of a century later, the beloved pop star’s death remains a mystery; family members and celebrities continue to investigate what happened that chilling day on the picturesque Mexican island of Cozumel.

A new version of Kirsty’s hit Christmas song, which she performed with Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, who died two years ago, is being released this year, with mixing by Kirsty’s ex-husband Steve Lillywhite.

And now the singer’s ex has revealed his theory.

In an explosive interview SunAcclaimed producer Steve argued that the truth behind the accident in the Caribbean Sea was hidden by a cover-up.

The 31ft powerboat mowed down Kirsty as she and Lillywhite’s two sons, Jamie and Louis, then aged 15 and 14, were rowing in the warm water.

Her ex-husband, now 70, suggested the tragedy could be traced to billionaire Mexican businessman Guillermo González Nova, who owned the boat.

He said: ‘They said a little boy was driving but nobody believes it.

‘I guess they didn’t want to make a huge case because he was one of the richest men in Mexico.’

The singer was photographed with Shane MacGowan while promoting his Christmas hit Fairytale of New York, circa 1987. Steve’s comments came as he released a re-recording of the song.

One of Nova’s employees, Jose Cen Yam, who was 26 at the time, claimed he was driving the powerful vehicle despite not having a driver’s license.

He told the court he was only traveling at one knot (about one mph), only a quarter of the speed limit in these waters.

Yam added that Kirsty was swimming outside the protected area when she and her son Jamie, who had been scuba diving, were hit by the boat.

The alleged perpetrator got away with a fine of just £61; This amount saved him from a prison sentence of two years and 10 months after he was found guilty of premeditated murder in 2003.

The singer’s elderly mother Jean Newlove launched a Justice for Kirsty campaign, backed by friends including U2 icon Bono.

The group began organizing judicial appeals, hiring private detectives to investigate the incident.

They discovered that if the driver had been traveling at a single knot, the divers could have moved the boat out of the way.

After billionaire Nova died in 2009 at the age of 92, Jean abandoned the official campaign investigating her daughter’s death.

Her ex-husband, now 70, suggested the tragedy could be traced to billionaire Mexican businessman Guillermo González Nova, who owned the boat.

The couple’s sons Jamie and Louis, pictured, were at sea at the time of their mother’s tragic death in 2000.

When Steve heard the news about his ex-girlfriend Kirsty, with whom he broke up in 1997, he immediately rushed from the United States to Mexico.

While promoting the new recording of Fairytale Of New York, which reached number two in the charts in 1987, he reflected on a time of year that was still difficult for him and the children.

The six-time Grammy winner admitted Kirsty’s festive success still reminds him of his former partner, who died at this time of year.

‘It’s a bittersweet feeling because it gives you a good feeling when you hear Fairy Tale,’ he said. ‘This reminds you of Christmas and everything.’

The pair married in 1984, three years after Kirsty’s breakthrough hit There’s a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears His Elvis.

Kirsty had gone to Cozumel for a holiday after presenting a BBC radio show in Cuba.

One would expect to be safe in the scuba diving area, given that speedboats are prohibited from entering a certain area.

She bravely dived to push her children out of the way as the boat sped towards her, but was killed instantly by the propellers.

Kirsty is seen with her two sons and mother Jean, who is running the Justice for Kirsty campaign investigating the star’s death

Jamie was slightly injured, his oxygen tank took the worst hit, while Louis was physically unharmed.

Also present was Kirsty’s much younger boyfriend James Knight, 26, and Steve reflected on what a difficult time this would be for the young musician, especially given the public attention.

People have long questioned whether business giant Nova was on board, and although he abandoned the campaign in 2009, mother Jean has vowed to take advantage of any new developments that may arise. He later died in 2017 at the age of 94.

Steve admitted the family had to learn to accept the frustrating decision and expressed hope that if anyone was saved thanks to the awareness the campaign had raised, it would be worth it.