35 Comments

• arialgirl | May 21, 2012, 11:57 AM EDT

  I'll hold off on bashing RFK Jr - even though he is a dirtbag, But as a resident of Westchester County - the highest taxed county in the US - I want to know why the County Executive's office is involved, Who gives a rat's tuckus what Donna Green, spokesperson for Little King Robbie As$torino, has to say. Shut up Rob and try not to destroy the county you're being paid to run. And BTW, sucking up to Cardinal Dolan won't buy your corrupt heartless soul into heaven.

• hunter933 | May 21, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT

  When RFK JR made a 40 minute visit to the house where Mary was found hanged, it was probably to take the suicide note and destroy it. What no note? Yeah right.

• christilcaugh | May 20, 2012, 09:26 PM EDT

  Sadly, the Kennedy's are a law unto themselves in that part of our country.

• phinsman | May 20, 2012, 01:06 PM EDT

  It makes no sense to me the the Kennedy's would get access to Mary Kennedy's remains. He treated her so disrespectfully during their divorce. My heart goes out to the Richardson family.

• sharoneileen | May 20, 2012, 12:09 AM EDT

  I am always saddened by the amount of Kennedy bashing that goes on when a scandal breaks. First of all we don't know the "naked truth" about any of this. I am sure that Robert loves his children and was doing what would most benefit them. No one knows the darkening depths of mental illness, and yes, if you commit suicide you are considered to be mentally ill. We still do not understand the role of depression and alcoholism, which comes first the drinking or the depression? Whenever men of power come under scrutiny there may be a host of things we don't, with our Puriatnical views, approve of. Here is a time honored statement I don't know where it originated: Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. May have been Winston Churchill.I feel bad for any and all of the affected family members and friends. My heart and prayers go out to them.

• aloistmartin | May 19, 2012, 09:46 PM EDT

  Lord God Almighty ! The Kennedy`s couldn`t BUY a Scandal Free Marriage !

• borefield | May 19, 2012, 08:46 PM EDT

  Pilib04, I seriously doubt Mary R.I.P. got the burial she would have wanted. Yes, the children should be the main consideration however, don't use the children to shield the Kennedy arrogance. He is cunning enough to have foreseen that most people would be on the side of doing what in the public eye was best for the children thus, giving him a pass! What cowards these Kennedy men are.

• pilib04 | May 19, 2012, 07:31 PM EDT

  Boy, you people sure like to kick folks while their down. Of course the views of the children was considered by the court. The children got the funeral they desired. So did Mary. The only one's not happy are the Kennedy-haters. Tough.

• ciarrai | May 19, 2012, 07:08 PM EDT

  I once met Robert Kennedy and I was impressed by what a powerhouse of energy and smarts he is. However, what is it with the Kennedy men and philandering? JFK was well known for this. The recent book by the woman who was an intern back in his presidency tells about some sleazy activities by him and others on his staff. Now there is the story that the recently deceased Mary Kennedy was concerned that her husband may have had extracurricular activities during their married days. What gives? What about trueblue, fidelity and honor? Cheaters suck, don't they?

• Woodman | May 19, 2012, 06:36 PM EDT

  Well Kennedy clearly won those divorce proceeding. Good family man that he is. Why not have her stuffed and put on display like a winning trophy?

• alisaann | May 19, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT

  @ CarriageHorse: they had children together, that TIES them for LIFE....weither or NOT they divorce. alisa

• alisaann | May 19, 2012, 04:52 PM EDT

  i'm guessing that she never changed her "next-of-kin" on things, and that's why he was called and granted custody of her body.....i DON'T believe that kennedy pushed her to become an addict...it was in her "make-up". alisa

• divadqwn | May 19, 2012, 04:50 PM EDT

  Well now I know why she died. Her enabeling family. Fighting over her body? Are they serious? No one can make an addict quit unless SHE wants to and SHE drank because she was trying to hold onto her marriage that was a done deal. Her husband was not going to allow her to drag him down with her. Deal with you enabeling guilts stop blaming the husband and get over it. Addicts quit or they die. Accept it and move on.

• Murph46 | May 19, 2012, 04:27 PM EDT

  Cut him some slack-We ain't the ones fighting over possession of a corpse!

• McNamara31 | May 19, 2012, 03:12 PM EDT

  Here we go again (some) Irish, bashing Irish. My sympathies go out to both families and the four children left behind without a mother. Both parents had problems with addictions in their past and lets be fair here, Robert Kennedy Jr (who never really had to work for money) went on to do countless positive acts in behalf of the environment and also for autistic children. In 2010 Kennedy was named one of Time’s "Heroes for the Planet" for his success in helping Riverkeeper to restore the Hudson River. So let’s cut him some slack especially at this terrible time.

• Searlit | May 19, 2012, 02:39 PM EDT

  So tragic. Being an activist/politician's wife can't be an easy life. I feel sympathy for the Richardson Family. It's the childrens feelings that need to be considered first. It's so heartbreaking all around.

• Bythebay | May 19, 2012, 02:25 PM EDT

  p;ilib04, you're welcome to them. Thank God they haven't spent any time or money in Ireland!!

• maryemoore | May 19, 2012, 02:08 PM EDT

  He IS a creep but the fact was that they were not divorced so of course the judge granted in his favor. Her family should be the bigger persons and think more of the innocent and devastated children left behind and band together at least through the wake and funeral. Poor Mary is finally at peace.

• pilib04 | May 19, 2012, 01:48 PM EDT

  The attacks on the Kennedy's seem to be generic in content. Like someone handed out an "attack Kennedy guidebook." We are talking about a wake and funeral not a campaign rally. Of course Mary Kennedy was closely connected to the Kennedy family. Her four children are Kennedy's for God's sake. Leave the family in peace. My sympathy to Kerry and Bobby and Bobby's 6 children. Siúlaimid le Dia Ar an saol seo Siúlann Dia linn agus sinn faoi bhrón.

• Bythebay | May 19, 2012, 01:03 PM EDT

  Those of you in the US, their divorce wasn't final. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is just manifesting the controlling, manipulative, power hungry, crushing arrogance of every generation of the Kennedys. Another sad part of the story as well is the fact Mary Richardson Kennedy couldn't even wait for him to divorce his first wife! And they call themselves the Devout Catholic Kennedys!

• Parents | May 19, 2012, 12:46 PM EDT

  Not so sure, it is definitely a pattern. They are charming at first and then the lack of total respect starts. You are more like a possession and when no longer toeing the line or become a problem you get the hardball tactics and dumped, kids or no kids. The money, well they control that - you can live in the house, have nice clothes for an appearance but that's it, nothing of your own. They control all the money and everything else. One would think having been through addiction himself and the fact that she was the mother of his 4 kids he might have tried harder to help her. She married into a cold, calculating,controlling marriage with him carrying on with a string of other women. It can break the best of us.

• MissSusie | May 19, 2012, 12:35 PM EDT

  This whole situation is disgusting. Couldn't Cheryl Hines have waited until his divorce was final?

• Murph46 | May 19, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT

  There it is folks ,power,arrogance,money.How many people you know ,divorced that the EX! husband gets control? Need I say more!

• Rebelforce | May 19, 2012, 11:58 AM EDT

  What a surprise to see the usual slimey Kennedy haters come slithering out from under their holes after a tragedy that has left for children under 17 motherless. Ofcourse Robert Kennedy had to step in to give his children's mother a timely, dignified and respectful burial. Imagine if RFK Jr hadn't paid for the funeral? We'd never hear the end of it. The guy is in a no-win situation. But ofcourse the first priority for Kennedy now is to look out for the emotional well being of his children. A family fight over her body is not in the best interests of the children.

• kathleentracy | May 19, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT

  One of the only words in the Kennedy family that they know (besides money and power, is control. My heart goes out to Mary's blood family who doesn't want her buried in the area of where she had been banned for the past 2 years. If she was divorced from him, then why does he have a say in anything to do with her wake and burial plans? I don't get it. And to see him on TV, greeting people at her home, with a smile on his face, just sickened me. Where the hell has he been for her??? And if they were just separated, then why weren't her AE bills paid??? IF they were divorced... shame on you Judge. You made a big mistake and I hope her blood family will pursue this more. Rest In Peace Mary.

• John G. Hogan | May 19, 2012, 11:19 AM EDT

  His first ex is probably counting her blessing(s)..............

• borefield | May 19, 2012, 11:16 AM EDT

  Another arrogant, heartless and bully move from ,yes, another Kennedy. He will get away with it. That judge should be excoriated for his stupid action. His Uncle and his cousin got away with murder. I am sure he contributed to her addiction like Uncle Ted did to Joan. What a disastrous family. Anyone thinking of marrying a Kennedy should think twice.

• weeknocky | May 19, 2012, 11:01 AM EDT

  Typical Kennedy dirtbag!

• Parents | May 19, 2012, 11:01 AM EDT

  That is just disgusting...the ugly power trip of another Kennedy. You didn't see her taking the kids when he was what a heroine addict. Just disgusting that he has power over her in death. I am sure he used every hardball tactic in the book and no doubt contributed to her troubles and death. Disgust is what I feel.

• CarriageHorse | May 19, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT

  If they were DIVORCED- how can any judge with half a brain consider him as next of kin? When you get DIVORCED you sever your ties. Oh, wait HE"S a KENNEDY- the law doesn't apply to him and his family. I wish the Richardsons would appeal. This is just totally disgusting and an insult to the deceased Mary Richardson and her family. I can't wait for karma to catch up with "Bobby Jr." The Kennedy Klan is an example of a family with too much money and poer and two few morals. This family is not "American royalty"- it is just a royal pain in the a**.

• Skibberrean | May 19, 2012, 10:43 AM EDT

  She should have been given back to her blood family. It is amazing to me how all the Kennedy men have had problems with their wives. I guess it all stems from old Joseph Kennedy's influences regarding women. It is truly ashame!

• bflogal | May 19, 2012, 10:37 AM EDT

  How heartless he is to do this to her family. He didn't care for her in life, you would think he would have the decency to let her have peace in death. He sure was not his fathers son.

• mamaginnty | May 19, 2012, 10:35 AM EDT

  Leave them be, she is/was the mother of his children. They had four walls that surrounded them, so none of us should guess what went on behind them. May she rest in peace.

• Getlin2 | May 19, 2012, 10:07 AM EDT

  The word shame does not exist in the Kennedy Family's vocabulary. Neither Jr.s actions nor his winning in court surprises me. He continues in their lowlife family tradition.

• wot90s | May 19, 2012, 08:17 AM EDT

  Jr, you were not interested in her for the last 2 years, why are you doing this to the family that she belongs to. Give her body back to her family. You were divorcing her, and you need to let her go.... Let her family that loves her have her. Not you. You should be ashamed of yourself, and of the Kennedy name if you continue to go thru with this possession after death...