William S. O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
William S. O'Sullivan was an Irish-American loanshark and longtime enforcer for Donald Killeen
, the head of the Irish mob
in South Boston, Massachusetts
. O'Sullivan also acted as a mentor
to a young James J. Bulger
, who grew up to become the leader of Boston's Winter Hill Gang
.
section of Dorchester with his wife, Mary, with whom he had six children. He worked for the state Massachusetts Department of Public Works until he was injured on the job in 1970 working on an MBTA tunnel at South Bay, Boston in South Cove. He had also previously worked as a bartender in South Boston. His wife Mary worked at Girl's Town on Morrissey Boulevard. She later told reporters, "Bill was a kind father. He wasn't strict with the children. He like young people, however, he was against... long hair... he didn't think it looked right."
They lived in a home at 300 Savin Hill Avenue. After her husband was murdered Mary professed not to have any knowledge on why her husband was shot to death, practically on the front steps of their home. She stated to the press that she was convinced that her husband's murder was not "one of those gangland slayings". She would later say that William was a "quiet man", a "fine husband" and a "wonderful father, and that he (wasn't) the type of person that you would associate with gangsters." Contrary to statements made by his wife, FBI documents report that O'Sullivan had a reputation as a "tough guy" and a prosperous loanshark because he was a close associate of Stephen Flemmi
and Frank Salemme
.
After Salemme and Flemmi fled Boston as fugitives from murder convictions, rival mobster Donald Killeen wanted O'Sullivan to align himself with Illario Zannino and himself. However, Killeen had begun having problems with the Mullen Gang
, a group of burglars and stick up men led by Paul McGonagle
and Patrick Nee
.
and O'Sullivan that he was going to murder Donald Killeen, and if they interfered, he would kill them. A violent argument followed, Roache drew his weapon and O'Sullivan shot him. Roache was hospitalized but survived the near fatal gunshot wound. Following the shooting, both Bulger, O'Sullivan, and neighborhood boss Donald Killeen
expected retribution for the attack on a ranking member of the rival Mullen Gang
. This fear proved well-founded and the rivalry between the Mullens and Killeens exploded into a gangland war.
According to longtime Bulger confidant Kevin Weeks
, Bulger's murder of Paul McGonagle's brother led directly to the Mullin Gang's assassination of his mentor. According to Weeks,
, Paul McGonagle was thoroughly livid over the murder of his brother and, believing that O'Sullivan was responsible, received permission to kill him. On March 28, 1971, after having dinner with his wife at Jimmy's Harborside Restaurant, O'Sullivan dropped his wife off at their home and told her that he had an errand to do and that he would be back in an hour. Shortly after midnight, Mary noticed that his car was parked in the driveway in front of their house at the bottom of their driveway, it was surrounded by a group of neighbors. She went out to see what her neighbors were looking at and she saw her husband's bullet riddled body. She at first did not recognize his body but made positive identification from the suit that he wore. O'Sullivan had been shot by several gunmen numerous times as he sat behind the wheel of his car and was hanging half out of the car with the driver's door open.
According to Weeks,
was murdered by Jimmy Mantville, another enforcer for the Mullen Gang. In the aftermath, the leadership of the Killeen crew devolved on Bulger. However, Bulger and the other Killeen loyalists fled Boston after the murder of their boss. Instead of murdering them as some Mullen gangsters wished, Mullen leader Patrick Nee
arranged for the dispute to be mediated by Winter Hill Gang
boss Howie Winter
and Joseph Russo of the Patriarca crime family
. After a sit-down in Boston's South End, the Mullen and Killeen gangs joined forces with Howie Winter as overall boss. In November 1974, Bulger, "took care of the right brother."
Donald Killeen
Donald Killeen was an Irish-American mob boss who controlled criminal activity, primarily bookmaking in South Boston, Massachusetts, during the 1960s and 1970s...
, the head of the Irish mob
Irish Mob
The Irish Mob is one of the oldest organized crime groups in the United States, in existence since the early 19th century. Originating in Irish American street gangs of the 19th century — depicted in Herbert Asbury's 1928 book The Gangs of New York — the Irish Mob has appeared in most...
in South Boston, Massachusetts
South Boston, Massachusetts
South Boston is a densely populated neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, located south and east of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. One of America's oldest and most historic neighborhoods, South Boston was formerly known as Dorchester Neck, and today is called "Southie" by...
. O'Sullivan also acted as a mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
to a young James J. Bulger
James J. Bulger
James Joseph "Whitey" Bulger, Jr. is a former organized crime figure from Boston, Massachusetts.Local folklore depicted Bulger as a Robin Hood-style social bandit dedicated to protecting the neighborhood and its residents. Bulger allegedly masterminded a protection racket targeting drug kingpins...
, who grew up to become the leader of Boston's Winter Hill Gang
Winter Hill Gang
The Winter Hill Gang is a structured confederation of Boston, Massachusetts-area organized crime figures, predominantly Irish-American with a small Italian-American faction. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts north of Boston. Its members have...
.
Biography
O'Sullivan was born in South Boston. He moved to the Savin HillSavin Hill
Savin Hill is the first album by punk band Street Dogs. This is the first new material featuring lead singer Mike McColgan since he quit Dropkick Murphys in 1998...
section of Dorchester with his wife, Mary, with whom he had six children. He worked for the state Massachusetts Department of Public Works until he was injured on the job in 1970 working on an MBTA tunnel at South Bay, Boston in South Cove. He had also previously worked as a bartender in South Boston. His wife Mary worked at Girl's Town on Morrissey Boulevard. She later told reporters, "Bill was a kind father. He wasn't strict with the children. He like young people, however, he was against... long hair... he didn't think it looked right."
They lived in a home at 300 Savin Hill Avenue. After her husband was murdered Mary professed not to have any knowledge on why her husband was shot to death, practically on the front steps of their home. She stated to the press that she was convinced that her husband's murder was not "one of those gangland slayings". She would later say that William was a "quiet man", a "fine husband" and a "wonderful father, and that he (wasn't) the type of person that you would associate with gangsters." Contrary to statements made by his wife, FBI documents report that O'Sullivan had a reputation as a "tough guy" and a prosperous loanshark because he was a close associate of Stephen Flemmi
Stephen Flemmi
Stephen Joseph "The Rifleman" Flemmi is an Italian-American mobster and close associate of Winter Hill Gang boss James J. Bulger. Beginning in 1965, Flemmi was a top echelon informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation...
and Frank Salemme
Frank Salemme
Francis P. Salemme [Salemone], also known as "Cadillac Frank" and "Julian Daniel Selig" , is a Boston, Massachusetts mobster who became a hitman and eventually the boss of the Patriarca crime family of New England before turning government witness.-Early years:In 1957, while in prison, Salemme...
.
After Salemme and Flemmi fled Boston as fugitives from murder convictions, rival mobster Donald Killeen wanted O'Sullivan to align himself with Illario Zannino and himself. However, Killeen had begun having problems with the Mullen Gang
Mullen Gang
-Gang members:Paulie McGonagle was a Boston mobster and onetime leader of the Mullen Gang, a South Boston street gang involved in burglary, auto theft, and armed robbery. During the war against Donald Killeen and his brothers, McGonagle successfully led the Mullens in a string of shootings which...
, a group of burglars and stick up men led by Paul McGonagle
Paul McGonagle
Paul McGonagle was an American mobster and leader of the Mullen Gang, a South Boston street crew involved in burglary and armed robbery....
and Patrick Nee
Patrick Nee
Patrick Nee is an Irish-American immigrant, former member of the Mullen Gang, Vietnam vet, and the bestselling author of the memoir A Criminal and an Irishman; The Inside Story of the Boston Mob-IRA Connection.-Early life:Nee was born in Ros Muc, an Irish language speaking village in the...
.
The Mullin-Killeen war
In February 1971, Buddy Roache, a close associate of McGonagle told Whitey BulgerJames J. Bulger
James Joseph "Whitey" Bulger, Jr. is a former organized crime figure from Boston, Massachusetts.Local folklore depicted Bulger as a Robin Hood-style social bandit dedicated to protecting the neighborhood and its residents. Bulger allegedly masterminded a protection racket targeting drug kingpins...
and O'Sullivan that he was going to murder Donald Killeen, and if they interfered, he would kill them. A violent argument followed, Roache drew his weapon and O'Sullivan shot him. Roache was hospitalized but survived the near fatal gunshot wound. Following the shooting, both Bulger, O'Sullivan, and neighborhood boss Donald Killeen
Donald Killeen
Donald Killeen was an Irish-American mob boss who controlled criminal activity, primarily bookmaking in South Boston, Massachusetts, during the 1960s and 1970s...
expected retribution for the attack on a ranking member of the rival Mullen Gang
Mullen Gang
-Gang members:Paulie McGonagle was a Boston mobster and onetime leader of the Mullen Gang, a South Boston street gang involved in burglary, auto theft, and armed robbery. During the war against Donald Killeen and his brothers, McGonagle successfully led the Mullens in a string of shootings which...
. This fear proved well-founded and the rivalry between the Mullens and Killeens exploded into a gangland war.
According to longtime Bulger confidant Kevin Weeks
Kevin Weeks
Kevin Weeks is a former mobster of Irish-American descent and a longtime friend and confidant to James J. Bulger, the infamous boss of the Winter Hill Gang, a crime family based out of the Winter Hill neighborhood in Somerville, Massachusetts.After his arrest and imprisonment in 1999, he became a...
, Bulger's murder of Paul McGonagle's brother led directly to the Mullin Gang's assassination of his mentor. According to Weeks,
"One day while the gang war was still going on, Jimmy was driving down Seventh Street in South Boston when he saw Paulie driving toward him. Jimmy pulled up beside him, window to window, nose to nose, and called his name. As Paulie looked over, Jimmy shot him right between the eyes. Only at that moment, just as he pulled the trigger, Jimmy realized it wasn't Paulie. It was Donald, the most likable of the McGonagle brothers, the only one who wasn't involved in anything. Jimmy drove straight to Billy O'Sullivan's house on Savin Hill Avenue and told Billy O, who was at the stove cooking, 'I shot the wrong one. I shot Donald.' Billy looked up from the stove and said, 'Don't worry about it. He wasn't healthy anyway. He smoked. He would have gotten lung cancer. How do you want your pork chops?'"
Murder victim
According to the memoirs of Mullin leader Patrick NeePatrick Nee
Patrick Nee is an Irish-American immigrant, former member of the Mullen Gang, Vietnam vet, and the bestselling author of the memoir A Criminal and an Irishman; The Inside Story of the Boston Mob-IRA Connection.-Early life:Nee was born in Ros Muc, an Irish language speaking village in the...
, Paul McGonagle was thoroughly livid over the murder of his brother and, believing that O'Sullivan was responsible, received permission to kill him. On March 28, 1971, after having dinner with his wife at Jimmy's Harborside Restaurant, O'Sullivan dropped his wife off at their home and told her that he had an errand to do and that he would be back in an hour. Shortly after midnight, Mary noticed that his car was parked in the driveway in front of their house at the bottom of their driveway, it was surrounded by a group of neighbors. She went out to see what her neighbors were looking at and she saw her husband's bullet riddled body. She at first did not recognize his body but made positive identification from the suit that he wore. O'Sullivan had been shot by several gunmen numerous times as he sat behind the wheel of his car and was hanging half out of the car with the driver's door open.
According to Weeks,
"Billy O'Sullivan's death might not have happened if he had listened to Jimmy. Billy O had been with Jimmy against the Mullins and had shot Buddy Roache during the gang war. Buddy, whose brother Mickey later became Boston's police commissioner, ended up crippled and in a wheelchair. In March 1971, not long after he shot the wrong McGonagle, Jimmy went to New York to pick up guns. Before he left, he told Billy to be careful while he was gone and not to drink. But that night, Billy hung around with Kevin O'Neil down at the Transit Cafe and ended up drunk. Kevin offered him a ride home, but Billy refused the offer. Heading home, He was chased by a couple of men with the Mullins gang who caught up with him when he tripped over a manhole cover about 200 yards from his house and fell down. While he was lying there, the pursuers shot him to death. If Kevin O'Neil had ended up driving Billy O'Sullivan home that night, he probably would have been killed, too."
Aftermath
In June 1972, Donald KilleenDonald Killeen
Donald Killeen was an Irish-American mob boss who controlled criminal activity, primarily bookmaking in South Boston, Massachusetts, during the 1960s and 1970s...
was murdered by Jimmy Mantville, another enforcer for the Mullen Gang. In the aftermath, the leadership of the Killeen crew devolved on Bulger. However, Bulger and the other Killeen loyalists fled Boston after the murder of their boss. Instead of murdering them as some Mullen gangsters wished, Mullen leader Patrick Nee
Patrick Nee
Patrick Nee is an Irish-American immigrant, former member of the Mullen Gang, Vietnam vet, and the bestselling author of the memoir A Criminal and an Irishman; The Inside Story of the Boston Mob-IRA Connection.-Early life:Nee was born in Ros Muc, an Irish language speaking village in the...
arranged for the dispute to be mediated by Winter Hill Gang
Winter Hill Gang
The Winter Hill Gang is a structured confederation of Boston, Massachusetts-area organized crime figures, predominantly Irish-American with a small Italian-American faction. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts north of Boston. Its members have...
boss Howie Winter
Howie Winter
Howard Thomas "Howie" Winter is an American mobster. He was the second leader of the infamous Winter Hill Gang.-Early life:...
and Joseph Russo of the Patriarca crime family
Patriarca crime family
The Patriarca crime family, also known as the New England crime family and the Providence crime family, is an Italian-American organized crime syndicate based in New England, specifically Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, and is part of the Italian-American Mafia or "La Cosa Nostra"...
. After a sit-down in Boston's South End, the Mullen and Killeen gangs joined forces with Howie Winter as overall boss. In November 1974, Bulger, "took care of the right brother."
Further reading
- "William S. O'Sullivan", Howie CarrHowie CarrHoward Louis "Howie" Carr, Jr. is an American journalist, author, and conservative radio talk-show host based in Boston with a listening audience rooted in New England.-Radio:...
's Encyclopedia of Boston Mobsters