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NICHOLAS GUIDO WAS showing off his new car outside his mother’s home on Christmas Day 1986 when he was gunned down because he’d been mistaken for a mobster with the same name. The bad information, prosecutors said, came from two decorated police detectives who would later be convicted of moonlighting as hit men for the mob.
Twenty-nine years later, the city has reached a $5 million settlement with Guido’s family in part of the fallout from one of the most stunning police corruption cases in New York history.
“This tragic matter involves the murder of an innocent man. After evaluating all the facts, it was determined that settling the case was in the city’s best interest,” the Law Department said in a statement. The family’s lawyer didn’t immediately return a call Friday night seeking comment.
Guido’s mother, Pauline Pipitone, was washing dishes after Christmas dinner when gunfire erupted outside her Brooklyn home.
She ran over to the car and found her 26-year-old son sitting up at the wheel, she testified at the ex-detectives’ 2006 racketeering trial. “I went to touch his hand, and he must have just died,” she said. “His fingertips were cold.”
Guido’s killers had him confused with an enemy of a mob underboss who paid then-detectives Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa to be his criminal “crystal ball,” a source of help killing eight of their patron’s foes between 1986 and about 1990, Brooklyn federal prosecutors said.
The detectives were accused of carrying out two of those killings themselves. In others, they made traffic stops that ended with the driver killed; another time, they kidnapped a target and turned him over to the underboss, prosecutors said.
The detectives got $4,000 a month for inside information on law enforcement investigations, and they got $65,000 for carrying out one killing, prosecutors said.
“This is probably the most heinous series of crimes ever tried in this courthouse,” a judge said at one point.
Eppolito and Caracappa, who insisted they were innocent, are serving life in prison.
Caracappa helped establish the police department’s office for Mafia homicide probes. Eppolito wrote an autobiography, “Mafia Cop,” about his life as a police officer who grew up in a mob family. He also played a bit part in the classic 1990 mob movie “GoodFellas.”
By the time of their 2005 arrests, Eppolito and Caracappa had retired to Las Vegas.
In 2010, New York City agreed to pay $9.9 million to an innocent man who spent 19 years behind bars after being framed by Eppolito, whose arrest prompted a re-examination of the man’s case.
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Loss of a national treasure.
R.I.P. Paddy.
RIP Paddy. Right up there with Luke, Jim McCann, Ronnie Drew and so many others. A huge loss to not only the Irish music scene but much further afield also, to every corner of Europe, Asia and the Americas where they always seemed to have a following.
I am English by birth, but I always enjoyed the music of the Chieftains, especially Paddy Moloney. RIP genius of Irish music, your like will be hard to find again.
He looked great on the late late around the end of last year, new year’s special i think. He was on a zoom call and whipped out a tin whistle from his pocket and played a tune. A national treasure, rest in peace.
He gave so much enjoyment to so many people. A great loss to the Irish traditional legacy!
If there was ever a man who had Ireland in his soul…..
RIP Paddy.
ah jaysus! RIP
@Miriam: no Paddy.
He played at my Grandads funeral with a set of my Grandads pipes, I’ve seen him live a few times since, RIP Paddy. Thanks for everything.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
He entertained the world, not just Ireland which he also helped to stand out internationally, in the field of music. Ireland now mourns a great loss. My condolences to his family and friends.
RIP
Rip Paddy. Long time family friend from the late 70′s and 80′s. My dad rescued him in the snowstorm in wicklow with a bottle of whisky. Those were the days.
A real national treasure, may his God bless him
Rip.
Great loss to all.
A musical genius.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a Anam dílis.
End of an era RIP. Condolences to his family.
His tin whistle solo on the lowlands of holland is a thing of beauty.
Ah another great legend of Irish music departs to the great concert in the sky. He was a true genius R.I.P. Paddy
Such a gentleman, may he rest in peace
RIP legend
Aww. Terrible loss. May he rest in peace.
One of irelands best loved musician. Rest in peace Paddy.
Brilliant man
Very sad news RIP Paddy
:(
Scíth a ligean
RIP. Was he part of Sean O’Riada music and influence in early years?
@Tim Oleary: Yes, the Ceoltoiri Chualann. If you look up the Nationwide episode on the RTE player from last Friday week when they did the special on Sean you will spot paddy a few times in the pictures.
A real legend of Irish music and a huge legacy left behind.
@Pete Trevaskis: Appreciated
@Tim Oleary: Yes. But in my opinion he is far more important than O’Riada, and is truly responsible for the revival of traditional Irish music. O’Riada was a brilliant academic. But Moloney was a pure musician to his soul. Ar dheis dé.
His Legacy to us will live on through the many many people he inspired. He is one of those people who always made you smile while tapping your feet and he always gave more than he received. He may have moved on but his music will always be with us. Ar dheis De go raibh a Anam dilis
A true gem, RIP.
My granny used to live next door to him. Very nice neighbour. He brought her in cooked meals when she couldn’t cook any more
Sad news.
RIP.
One of the all time greats. He was the original collaborator always thinking outside the box. He is highly regarded across the world and will continue to be so. Music, particularly Irish music, has lost a true legend. Rest easy Paddy.
He brought joy to all who embraced his music style. What an inspiration to all. He and Liam Og O Floinn were the architects of the transition from the old traditional Irish music to the broader outward looking style of today. RIP.
Great musician and entertainer rolled into one. His commentaries between playing were always interesting and jovial…RIP
Such a sad week for traditional music with the loss of Paddy Moloney and Tony McMahon.
RIP Paddy.
RIP a true legend.
What a legend RIP
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