Mafia’s fruit to kill policy

LEMONS played a crucial part in the origins of the Mafia, historians reckon.

They say the Sicilian gangs profited from a rise in sales of the fruit in the 1800s, and the fact farmers were targeted by thieves.

Dr Arcangelo Dimico, of Queen’s University Belfast, said: “Lemon producers resorted to hiring Mafia affiliates for protection.”