Why are people in the Boston area defending Whitey Bulger?

My ex-husband grew up in Southie in the time of Whitey. I think you would have to understand what the culture was like back then in the projects. The poor Irish in those communities felt jilted and put upon. They were fiercely protecting what they thought was "their" area and Whitey was part of "keeping it Irish". My husband would talk about when he was young all the good that he did for the kids in the area, specifically with the Boys and Girls club, but as he got older his opinion changed of him as it seemed Whitey lost his loyalty and was bringing drugs into the community and getting local kids hooked. The projects are NOTHING like they were back in the day now. It is a mixed racially and not the community it once was (even though it was crap then too).