Boss of Bosses
Page 34
and Vito Ciancimino, 30
fails to fix Mafia maxi-trial, 106
murdered, 106–7
Lipari, Arturo, 95
Lipari, Cinzia, 95, 242–3
Lipari, Giuseppe, 268
Lipari, Pino:
and Provenzano, 60
Sicilian public health system fraud, 60
charged with Mafia association, 63
operates Palermo works cartel (Tavolino), 63–4
paternalism towards Provenzano’s sons, 90–1, 92, 94
involves own family in Mafia, 95, 152, 205, 242–3
pretends to collaborate with police, 205–6
Lo Bianco, Pieruccio, 74, 126, 178
Lo Bue, Giuseppe, 249–53
Lo Bue, Mariangela (née Gariffo), 249, 251–3
Lo Piccolo, Salvatore, 244–7, 266–7
Lo Piccolo, Sandro, 267
Lo Verso, Stefano, 223–4, 228
Lupo, Salvatore:
Mafia and social status, 17
on viale Lazio massacre, 24–5
on Luciano Liggio, 25–6
on Corleonesi, 29–30, 67
on Mafia leadership qualities, 154
on Angelo Provenzano, 266
continuing Mafia power struggles, 267
‘Lynx, the’ (police agent), 254, 256
Madonia, Ciccio, 37
Madonia, Nino, 74
Madonia, Piddu, 80, 103, 130, 140
Mafia (also Cosa Nostra):
methods of communication, 5, 131–4, 158, 212, 237, 242, 243
‘submersion’strategy, 8, 144–61, 171, 199
ruling commission, 25
culture, 25, 26, 68, 82–3, 134, 197–8
drug trafficking and money-laundering, 29, 31, 49–53, 55, 62, 266
code of honour, 35, 48
anti-Mafia laws, 39, 40, 162, 163, 167
wages war against state, 39–40, 99–111
‘Mafia enterprise’, 61
the maxi-trial (1986), 65–6, 76–7, 78, 79, 100, 106
religious attitudes, 195–6
Mafia and political corruption see
Christian Democratic Party;
Communist Party; Forza Italia;
Radical Party; Socialist Party (PSI);
Southern League; UDC
Manca, Dr Attilio, 231
Mandalà, Nicola, 170, 171, 218–22, 224
Mandalà, Nino (‘the Lawyer’), 169
Mandalari, Giuseppe, 50
Mangano, Vittorio, 164–6
Mannoia, Agostino Marino, 77–8
Mannoia, Francesco Marino, 78
Marchese, Filippo, 78
Marchese, Vincenzina (wife of Leoluca Bagarella), 122–3
Marino, Giovanni, 236–7, 255–7
Martelli, Claudio, 77, 79
Marussig, Pierfrancesco, 172
Mattarella, Piersanti, 37, 106
maxi-trial, the Mafia see Mafia: the maxi-trial (1986)
Mazara del Vallo (town), 82, 84
Mercadante, Dr Giovanni, 173–4, 192
Mesi, Maria, 212
Mesi, Paola, 212
Messina, Leonardo, 47
Mezzojuso (town), 134, 135, 138, 176, 180, 181
Miceli, Mimmo, 213, 214, 216
Misilmeri (town), 126
Moncada, Girolamo, 23–4
Mondello (town), 33, 110
money-laundering see Mafia: drug trafficking and money-laundering
Mongerbino ad Aspra (Bagheria), 59
Monreale (town), 56
Montagna dei Cavalli (nr Corleone), 236, 253
Montalto, Francesco, 124–5
Montana, Beppe, 59–60, 64
Mori, Mario, 111, 113, 114
Morreale, Onofrio, 80–1, 228
Morvillo, Francesca (wife of Giovanni Falcone), 107
Navarra, Dr Michele (‘Our Father’), 14, 15–16, 21, 25
Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany), 89
Orlando, Leoluca, 174
Orlando, Madeleine, 222
Ospedale Civico (Palermo), 173
Palazzolo, Paolo, 43, 48, 190
Palazzolo, Salvatore, 43, 46, 192
Palazzolo, Salvo (journalist), 5, 7, 45
Palazzolo, Saveria Benedetta (companion of Bernardo Provenzano):
early life with Bernardo Provenzano, 43–8
convicted of money-laundering, 49–52, 63
life in Corleone, 85–91, 93–8, 188, 193–4, 239
rumours of life in Germany, 89
Christmas trip to Germany, 97–8
use of codes, 188
loving relationship with Provenzano, 189
health, 191–2
attitude to press, 196–7
and wish to marry, 263–4
Palermo University, 92
Palermo:
anti-Mafia street protests, 10
drug trafficking war, 19–20
rise of Corleonesi, 19–20, 23–5, 28–42, 54–5
viale Lazio massacre, 23–4, 47
corruption in city, 28, 29
Partanna Mondello (nr Palermo), 83
Partinico (town), 103, 142
Pasqua, Giovanni, 13
Pastoia, Ciccio, 59, 179–80, 184, 217–18, 224–9, 231
Pellegrini, Angiolo, 9, 49–50, 55–6, 61–2, 64, 157–8, 183
Pennino, Dr Gioacchino, 32–4
pentiti (Mafia defectors), 7, 47–9, 57, 71, 104, 108, 109, 121, 130, 155
Piana degli Albanesi (town), 83
pizzini (letters) see Mafia: methods of communication
Porta Nuova (mafia group), 166
Prestipino, Michele:
comments on Provenzano, 5–6, 7, 149, 155
Provenzano’s ‘mediation’letter, 146
seizes Provenzano’s health records, 230
Provenzano’s arrest, 259
Principato, Teresa, 198
Prizzi (town), 35, 174
Provenzano, Angelo (father of Bernardo Provenzano), 17, 89
Provenzano, Angelo (son of Bernardo Provenzano):
personal life, 46, 88, 90–7, 182, 188–93, 196, 198–201
owns launderette, 94, 189, 194, 196–7, 240
relationship with father, 96–7, 191, 239–42, 264–6
use of numerical codes, 190–2
contacts with Giuseppe Lo Bue, 249–50
gives BBC interview, 265
Provenzano, Bernardo (‘Binnu’; also ‘the Tractor’; also ‘the Accountant’):
MAFIA LIFE:
final capture, 3–4, 249–58
and Salvatore Riina, 6–7, 27, 63, 67–78, 80–1, 98–9, 100–2, 113–15
power and influence, 6–8
rumours of death, 7, 123
skills at mediation, 8, 14, 15, 30–1, 32, 244–7, 266
escapes police ambush in Castronovo, 22
as fugitive, 22, 236–9
nicknames, 25, 26–7, 34, 36
involvement in viale Lazio massacre, 23–4
banned from public office, 27
rises to power in Palermo, 29–30, 35–6, 41–2, 55
as joint leader of Corleone family, 31, 42, 67–73, 244
and Gioacchino Pennino, 32–4
accused of Dalla Chiesa assassination, 40
and money-laundering activities, 49–52
convicted of Mafia association, 50
involvement in Sicilian public health corruption, 56, 60–1, 62, 172–4
involvement in political corruption, 57–8, 73–7, 163, 166–8
controls public works cartel, 63–4
and Luciano Liggio, 67, 69–70, 152
wears bishop’s robes as disguise, 103
involvement in Falcone and Borsellino assassinations, 103–8
tensions with Leoluca Bagarella, 119–21, 124–6
takes leadership of Mafia (Cosa Nostra), 123, 126–8
leadership style and ‘submersion’ strategy, 129–30, 132–4, 138–9, 144–61, 171, 199
difficulties with Giovanni Brusca, 136–7, 139–42
murder of Gino Ilardo, 139–40
supports convicted mafiosi, 167, 243–4
break-up of political network, 168–9
attempts peace talks between Benedetto Spera and Ciccio Pastoia, 179–80
avoids police search near Mezzojuso, 182–3
deteriorating relationship with Nino Giuffré, 184–7
obsession with security, 202–4, 221, 235–7
Giuffré’s collaboration with police, 207–11, 261–2
mediates between Nino Rotolo and Salvatore Lo Piccolo, 244–7, 266
imprisonment and trial, 261–3
wealth, 263, 268
see also Giuffré, Nino; Liggio, Luciano; Mafia; Riina, Salvatore
PERSONAL LIFE:
appearance, 4, 5, 12–13, 14–15
living conditions, 5–6, 258–60
personality and character, 5–6, 8–9, 67, 126, 148, 159
relationship with sons (Angelo and Francesco), 9–10, 189–91, 239–42, 264–6
early influences, 13–14
birth and childhood, 17
meets Saveria Benedetta Palazzolo (companion), 43–7
health problems, 67, 136, 181, 201, 210, 217–23, 230–1, 238, 264
disjointed family life, 90–9, 188–93
use of Bible, 151–2, 237
see also Palazzolo, Saveria Benedetta; Provenzano, Angelo; Provenzano, Francesco Paolo
Provenzano, Francesco Paolo (son of Bernardo Provenzano):
personal life, 48, 88, 89, 92, 198, 200, 265
relationship with father, 96–7, 191, 239–42, 264–6
Provenzano, Giovanna (née Rigoglioso; mother of Bernardo Provenzano), 17
Provenzano, Maria Concetta (sister of Bernardo Provenzano), 17
Provenzano, Michela Arcangela (sister of Bernardo Provenzano), 17
Provenzano, Rosa (sister of Bernardo Provenzano), 17
Provenzano, Salvatore (brother of Bernardo Provenzano), 87, 88, 247, 269
Provenzano, Simone (brother of Bernardo Provenzano), 89, 93, 97, 178, 247
Publitalia (advertising agency), 163–4
Puglisi, Padre Pino, 121
Punta Raisi airport, 32
Radical Party, 74
Riccio, Maresciallo Michele, 163
Riccio, Colonel Michele, 130, 131, 134–8
Riccobono, Rosario, 83–4
Riesi (town), 35
Rigoglioso, Giovanni see Provenzano, Giovanna
Riina, Bernardo, 252–6
Riina, Giovanni (son of Salvatore Riina), 113, 115, 119, 195, 198
Riina, Maria Concetta (daughter of Salvatore Riina), 194–5
Riina, Salvatore (‘Toto’; ‘Shorty’):
as joint leader of Corleone family, 6–7, 27, 31–2, 67–73
and Bernardo Provenzano, 6–7, 27, 63, 67–78, 80–1, 98–9, 102
and Luciano Liggio, 13–15
appearance and character, 14–15, 26, 38
involvement in viale Lazio massacre, 24
rise to power in Palermo, 25–7, 35–6
banned from public office, 27
antagonism towards Vito Ciancimino, 30–1
accused of Dalla Chiesa assassination, 40
consolidates power in Palermo, 41–2, 55
marriage to Ninetta Bagarella, 47, 151
and political corruption, 73–7
faces rebellion against his rule, 77, 79
wages war against state, 99–101, 109, 110–11
involvement in Falcone and Borsellino assassinations, 104–8
final capture, in–15
and bungled police search of home, 113–14, 258
loathing for pentiti, 121–3
and Giovanni Brusca, 141, 142
see also Liggio, Luciano; Provenzano, Bernardo
Riina, Salvo (son of Salvatore Riina), 194, 199–200
Riolo, Giorgio, 206, 210–11, 213–15
Rizzotto, Placido, 13–14
Rocca Busambra (nr Corleone), 18, 20
Rome:
San Giovanni bombing, 121
ROS (Ragruppamento Operativo Speciale), 130, 138, 140, 202, 210, 214
Rotolo, Nino, 159, 160, 174, 244–7, 266
Ruffino, Giuseppe, 13, 21
Russo, Giuseppe, 35, 72
Sabella, Alfonso:
on Salvatore Riina, 41–2, 69, 71
hunt for bombers, 118
Salvatore Barbagallo’s collaboration, 125
and Villabate feud, 125–6
issuing of arrest warrants, 129
and Vito Vitale, 142
Provenzano and Mafia prisoners, 244
Sabella, Marzia, 8–9, 257–9
Salvo family, 29
Salvo, Ignazio, 122
Salvo, Nino, 32
San Giuseppe lato (town), 22, 30, 36, 112, 136, 142
Santa Maria di Gesù (town), 75, 80
Santa Teresa Clinic (Bagheria), 222
Santapaola, Nitto (‘the Hunter’), 56, 103, 234
Santino, Umberto, 154
scappati (fugitives) see Inzerillo family
SCO (Servizio Centrale Operativo), 152, 233–4
Segno (Catholic magazine), 150
Sicilian Vespers (anti-Mafia operation), 108
Siino, Angelo (‘the Builder’), 56, 63, 67, 108, 156, 222
Socialist Party (PSI), 74–6, 77, 156, 167
Southern League (political group), 162–3
Spera, Benedetto:
as ally of Provenzano, 123
struggle with Pieruccio Lo Bianco, 126, 178
as fugitive, 176–7, 178
rivalry with Ciccio Pastoia, 179–80, 225
arrest, 182
Splendor (Angelo Provenzano’s launderette), 94, 189, 194, 196–7, 240
Stanfa family, 209
Streva, Francesco, 17–18
Tavolino (‘Round Table’; Mafia public works cartel), 63–4
Terranova, Cesare, 20, 37
Tolentino, Angelo, 176–7, 205
‘Tractor, the’ see Provenzano, Bernardo
Trapani (town), 49, 59, 74, 82, 89
Trioio, Ugo, 35
Troia, Gaspare, 220, 222, 224, 229, 230
Troia, Salvatore, 222–3, 224
Ucciardone prison (Palermo), 107
UDC (centre-right political party), 213
Umina, Carmelo, 202, 207
Umina, Salvatore, 207
Vaccaro, Lorenzo, 135
Vaccaro, Mimmo, 133
Valguarnera (town), 101
via Bernini (Palermo), 113
via Colletti (Corleone), 87
via Libertà (Palermo), 63
via Marconi (Ficarazzi), 226
via Scorsone (Corleone), 193
viale Lazio massacre (Palermo), 23–4, 47
viale Strasburgo (Palermo), 50
Vicari (village), 207
Villa Cattolica (Bagheria), 53
Villa dei Mostri (Bagheria), 57
Villa Valquarnera (Bagheria), 57
Villabate (town), 58, 124–6, 156, 169–72
Violante, Luciano, 118, 269
Virga, Domenico, 207, 208
Vitale, Giusy 103, 114
Vitale, Leonardo, 103, 114
Vitale, Vito, 103, 114, 142–3
The author of Mafia Women and No Questions Asked, Clare Longrigg is perhaps the leading British expert on the Mafia. In this new biography, she draws on her vast experience and wide range of contacts to paint a portrait of a secretive and immensely powerful man, who for decades controlled the Mafia with an iron hand.
Bernardo Provenzano after his arrest on 11 April 2006, after forty-three years on the run. ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’, he told police.
The sheep farm near Corleone where Provenzano lived for a year before he was finally arrested. The two men are by the door to his hideout. The owner had put up a TV arial for him, and built on a new bathroom.
Bernardo Provenzano (known as ‘the Tractor’): police mugshot after his arrest for stealing cheese and cattle rustli
ng in 1958, aged twenty-five. During his four decades as a fugitive this was the only image the police had to go on.
Bernardo Provenzano (by now known as ‘the Accountant’): police mugshot, 2006, aged seventy-three. He had been convicted in his absence of twenty-one murders and been given three life sentences.
Provenzano before leaving for his brief military service in the air force, 1954. He was dismissed after only six months on grounds of ill health, with a record of good conduct.
Totò Riina as a young man, pictured on his ID card. He and Provenzano grew up in Luciano Liggio’s gang of cattle rustlers and became his joint lieutenants in the Corleone mafia.
Totò Riina, already a wanted criminal, in Venice in the 1970s. Riina and his family lived in hiding for decades as he and Provenzano built their empire, straying from home only on exceptional occasions and, apparently, holidays.
Saveria Benedetta Palazzolo, Provenzano’s companion of thirty-seven years and the mother of his two sons. She lived with him on the run until 1992, when he sent her and the boys to live in Corleone.
Luciano Liggio, boss of the Corleonesi and Provenzano’s mentor, in court, 1987. He was a man of extreme violence and intense rages, changeable and moody as a child.
Vito Ciancimino, son of a Corleone barber, during his brief term as mayor of Palermo, 1970. Provenzano steered Ciancimino’s political career and protected him.
Right: The aftermath of the shoot-out in viale Lazio, Palermo, on 10 December 1969. Provenzano led a group of gunmen disguised as policemen. When his gun jammed, he pistol-whipped Mafia capo Michele Cavataio (pictured) to death.
Below: National hero General Alberto Dalla Chiesa and his young wife, Emanuela Setti Carraro, were ambushed by mafiosi with machine guns in September 1982.
Leoluca Bagarella, Totò Riina’s brother-in-law from Corleone, who took over the clan’s military leadership after Riina’s arrest in 1993. He pursued a reckless strategy of violence, jeering at Provenzano’s peaceful approach.
The aftermath of the bomb at Capaci, near Palermo, that killed anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone and his wife, Francesca Morvillo, on 23 May 1992. Riina and Provenzano were both convicted of ordering the killing, which resulted in a massive crackdown on the mafia.
Giovanni Brusca, boss of San Giuseppe Iato and one of the Corleonesi’s main allies, after his arrest in June 1996. He pressed the detonator that set off the Capaci bomb. Behind him is a photograph of Giovanni Falcone with Paolo Borsellino.