If mcormick and carroll, and dallas did say anything to Peter Kennedy when he was alive then that was good, and should have made him aware, of what was overstepping the bounds of good ethics       however a clear case either way should have resulted in litigation,.
perhaps his detractors did not have ENOUGH evidence.
   PERHAPS kennedy wouldnt have been able to clear his name[ we will never know].
alternatively kennedys threats of litigation could be interpreted as him having a strong case,[ we have so far only tiny amounts of concrete evidence ]otherwise stradling would not be having to ask for evidence against Kennedy.
clearly either side did not have the money to take it to court,.   
    which suggests that kennedy didnt make pounds but pence, that doesnt excuse Kennedy, but puts a proper perspective   on the matter.
so that level headed judgement[[ rather than emotive phrases like [ripping off]]]can be made.