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Tom Foley.
Photo by: John Wilcox[/caption]
No matter what a Florida appeals court says, the top state trooper who helped bring down James “Whitey” Bulger and his gang is convinced the corrupt FBI agent linked to the mobsters will never be completely innocent.
“It is a very frustrating case. This has been going on for years. Welcome to the legal system,” said Tom Foley, a retired state police colonel, after learning disgraced G-man John “Zip” Connolly could be a free man within weeks.
Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal ruled 2-1 yesterday to toss out Connolly’s second-degree murder conviction and 40-year prison term. An appeal is pending.
Foley said he stands firm that Connolly should not walk away.
“There’s no doubt that what happened was wrong. He knows that,” Foley said.
“John knows what was done was wrong. ... On the other hand, it was the way the federal government was operating at the time,” Foley added of the FBI agent’s use of Bulger as a source. “John wasn’t the only one who was operating wrong. ... His supervisors and those in Washington were also wrong.”
Foley added it wasn’t always the safe route.
“We did our job the best we could. We stuck our necks out farther than anybody. I feel bad for the victims’ families,” he said.
“It eats at you but you can’t let it control your life. Who knows what will happen on an appeal?”
Jaclyn Cashman is co-host of “Morning Meeting” on Boston Herald Radio.
Copyright © 2024 Jaclyn Cashman.
