A selection of possessions seized from the home of James "Whitey" Bulger is to be auctioned with the proceeds to go to the families of his victims.

Bulger was a well-known gang leader in the Boston underworld in the 1970s to the 1990s who had also worked as an informer for the FBI. In 1994, he was tipped off about an upcoming indictment and went on the run, remaining at large until 2011.

James "Whitey" Bulger was one of America's most feared criminals

In June 2013 he was charged with a list of offences, including complicity in 19 murders, and was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in jail.

While on the run he is said to have lived simply, with a gold and diamond claddagh ring valued at $48,000 the only possession of any real value (besides a large sum of money) to be discovered in his Massachusetts apartment.

With strong public interest in the case, it is possible that his personal effects will make a significant sum as a result of his infamy - although it is not yet known what items will be sold.

Crime memorabilia is a controversial subject in the collecting world, with some arguing that the sales are morally reprehensible while others counter that the artefacts have important historical value.

Either way, memorabilia pertaining to famous criminals can achieve major figures at auction. A sale in 2012 saw a pair of pistols owned by Bonnie and Clyde auction for a combined total of $504,000, while an archive pertaining to Al Capone achieved $23,582 at RR Auction in 2013.

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