“The Cirillo case was the end of Raffaele Cutolo. He thought he was making the big leap, having established very close relationships with the DC and the Secret Services: but then they abandoned him”.
Judge Carlo Alemi said this in an interview with La Repubblica, regarding the kidnapping of the then Christian Democrat regional councillor Ciro Cirillo – released in July 1981 – by the Red Brigades.
He adds: "It was the first negotiation between the State and the Mafia recognized in the sentences. It was in the post-earthquake period of 1980. The Secret Services did not try to free the hostage, but negotiated with the Red Brigades and with Cutolo who received visits in prison, in Ascoli Piceno, from officials of the Services, from some powerful Christian Democrats and from his lieutenants Enzo Casillo and Corrado Iacolare".
"Cirillo – declared the judge – was freed and the Red Brigades obtained one and a half billion lire in addition to the transfer of some of their members to other prisons".
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On Cutolo, the judge emphasizes that, "the State recognized him as an interlocutor. He obtained the promise of being able to participate with trusted companies in the reconstruction. In addition to the commitment of the Red Brigades to get rid of any policemen who were bothering him, as happened with the vice-questor Antonio Ammaturo".
The judge also reflects on what would have happened if Cutolo had collaborated: "He said it himself, it would have been - he states - Italy. But he always remained the man of half-truths, he sent messages, he said he had sacrificed himself to free Cirillo. But when the Head of State, Sandro Pertini, personally imposed his transfer to the super-prison of Asinara, there was nothing more that could be done for Cutolo".
Article published on 18 February 2021 - 09:21
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