Underwatertimes.com News Service - January 9, 2006 00:00 EST
kirsty maccoll

The mum of Croydon-born singer Kirsty MacColl has vowed she will "never give up" the fight for justice for her daughter.

Following the fifth anniversary of Kirsty's death Jean MacColl believes the goal is in sight as she battles for the authorities to re-open the investigation into her daughter's final hours.

The 41-year-old was killed by a speedboat off the coast of Mexico as she was scuba diving in December 2000.

Now the legal battle has resulted in a legal action for perjury against one of the most powerful men in Mexico - the boat's owner Gonzalez Nova - and two of his relatives.

The writ requires them to provide written evidence to a court.

In 2003 boathand Jose Cen Yam was found guilty of negligent homicide for his part in the crash and paid a £61 fine in lieu of jail time.

But Mrs MacColl believes the boat owner should also have been brought to justice and has been fighting for this to happen ever since.

Jean, 82, who lived in Selsdon when Kirsty was a schoolgirl, said: "I have no doubt that we will win the battle.

"It's rather like climbing a mountain. The lower slopes are relatively simple but as one gets nearer the summit, it gets more difficult.

"The goal is in sight but still not within reach."

Kirsty was born at Mayday Hospital and attended Monks Hill comprehensive school, in Selsdon, in the 1970s before launching her pop career which included the classic Christmas track Fairytale of New York.

The song, which originally made number two, was re-issued over the festive period and peaked at number three in the chart, beating the likes of Westlife, Coldplay and Girls Aloud in the Christmas charts.

A download-only version of the song was also released and featured former Brit School pupil Katie Melua singing Kirsty's lines.

Royalties from the release will be split between homeless charities and the Justice For Kirsty campaign.

For more information about Mrs MacColl's campaign visit the website at www.justiceforkirsty.org