The 'Essex Boys' Murders: Jack Whomes 'was responsible'

Whomes was jailed for life after being convicted of the murder of Anthony Tucker, Patrick Tate and Craig Rolfe in Rettendon, south Essex, in a gangland shooting 28 years ago.

He was released from prison in 2021 having had his 25-year minimum term cut to just over 22 years due to good behaviour behind bars.

Whomes, now 62 and originally from Brockford in mid Suffolk, and Michael Steele have always insisted they were not responsible for the killings.

But Bernard O'Mahoney, who worked with nightclub owner Mr Tucker before his death, has said the original convictions were correct.

Bernard O'Mahoney worked with Anthony Tucker, one of the 'Essex Boys' (Image: Bernard O'Mahoney)

Mr O'Mahoney was speaking after the release of the new three-part Sky documentary The Essex Murders, which takes a fresh look at the case almost three decades on.

The series prominently features Dave McKelvey and his team of private investigators at TM Eye, who believe Whomes and Steele were convicted despite a lack of concrete evidence.

TM Eye suggested the killings could have been carried out by a gang in London over a dispute in the drugs trade.

Whomes' brother John, who still lives in Suffolk, expressed hope before the show aired that it would help clear his sibling's name.

However, Mr O'Mahoney has described the documentary as "absolutely and totally misleading" and "untrustworthy".

Whomes moved back to Suffolk after his release and works in the Ipswich area (Image: Newsquest)

He added: "Pretty much every bit of evidence has been before the Criminal Cases Review Commission. It won't be looked at again.

"Whomes and Steele were convicted by a jury. There is a shed load of evidence that convicted them.

"TV is entertainment – it doesn't mean it is neccessarily true. If you want to look, the truth is out there.

"I have had this for nearly 30 years, it's never-ending."