Johnny McGrath, 21, was the leader of the notorious Glasgow razor gang The Gorbals Cumbie. To some that was a reference to the Caravel Bar he and his wife Margaret ran on Hallhill Road, Barlanark, for more than a decade. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. He was hit with a confiscation order for almost 747,000 in October 2008 after being jailed for laundering 1million of drug cash. Emergency services were called to the scene on Tuesday evening. Now he's back in his hometown, a reporter and up to his neck in crime and corruption in the austerity age. Cumbernauld crash leaves five injured as police close road for six hours. The following list of gangs was published in the Glasgow Evening Times in February 2006 as identified by Strathclyde Police with the accompanying map.. By 1996 the Caravel had ceased trading and was bulldozed to the ground. The fight that ensued became the stuff of legendits said that the two gang leaders went 71 rounds before police finally stepped in. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's As is usually the case when investigating gang crimes, police struggled to find any witnesses who would pass on information, due to fear. Look inside three-bedroom house up for sale in Glasgow south side, Angry scenes in Dumbarton as riot police pelted with bricks and fireworks as house attacked. He was born in Lennoxtown in 1952 before moving to live in Glasgows tough East End. It. The Beretta pistol was among a haul of firearms, ammunition and a grenade which were discovered in a concealed compartment in the back of a Honda CRV, Firearms traded by the organised gang were also used to enforce the gang's lucrative drugs operations, Counter surveillance equipment was among 1,000 items of evidence recovered by police, Police Scotland detectives have held talks about the gang with the FBI and DEA at the US embassy in London, A grenade filled with 3,000 steel balls and capable of killing people within 25 metres was found by police, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Albert Fish, seen here in 1903, murdered several children between 1924 and 1932. Billy Gaffney, for instance, was Fishs next unfortunate victim. McGraw rarely stood trial and when he did he was usually cleared or the charges were dropped. Drawing on the tradition of terror inspired by Glasgows fearsome gangs of the Industrial Revolution, the Headhunters adopted the Glasgow smile as their own trademark, calling it the Chelsea smile or the Chelsea grin.. Housing Despite the media fixation with the slums, there were sustained efforts to improve living standards, especially in the politically sensitive sphere of housing. There are parallels with The Iceman. Edwin Mills, a Detroit street gang member, pleaded guilty to murdering a rival gang member and an innocent 13-year-old bystander as part of a racketeering conspiracy. Tam McGraw HE was one of Glasgow's most notorious gangsters said to have made a 30 million fortune from a life of crime . ", Techniques used by an organised crime gang, Greenock murder investigation after Neil Canney shot dead. Sillitoe immediately took measures to rid Glasgow of their razor gangs and subsequently, the notorious Glasgow smile torture method. Members were always armedso much so that the police preferred to just let them have their way rather than risk a confrontation. The Spring Inn is long gone, but the building still stands. And while there is clearly no honour among the thieves, far less killers, the murder of Tony allowed his brother-in-law, Stirton to move in on the empire. McGraw was attempting to expand his own ice cream van business and along with others had been known to use violence and intimidation to secure the most lucrative rounds for himself. The gangs favorite weapons included heavy belts and knives known as bleeders.. Editors' Code of Practice. He was deeply embedded with the powerful McGovern family from Springburn, the McGovernment as they were known locally. Det Ch Supt McLean said: "We had intelligence that they had a high degree of capability and when we were deploying techniques against them we were not seeing the results we expected to see. The rise of the clan was, in large part, through the efforts of Russell Stirton, who married McGovern sister Jacqueline. He later stumbled into the shadows of the Irish War of Independence before drifting over to England. Weve picked through some of the citys toughest pubs that once decorated the city, many of which will conjure up images of crime and police tape. Fish first murdered and ate 10-year-old Grace Budd, and the investigation into her disappearance led to more morbid victims of his. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. Morgan Dunn is a freelance writer who holds a bachelors degree in fine art and art history from Goldsmiths, University of London. The Glasgow taxi gangster wars started after some shrewd operators tried to muscle in on the lucrative taxi trade without having the necessary and expensive papers taxi drivers are required to produce. The McGovern family of Springburn, known locally as the McGovernment, used the Spring Inn as their headquarters. In a judgement delivered later her ladyship said Stirton had a criminal empire based on fraud, drugs, a protection racket and money laundering through car sales and the petrol station. Thousands raised for Glasgow family heartbroken at death of 21-year-old in three-car crash horror. Scottish Government halts controversial Glasgow flats plan for Merchant City car park. The detective said: "On a random stop there would have been next to no chance of finding it.". In 1934, serial killer and so-called Brooklyn Vampire Albert Fishs reign of terror ended in New York City. Most of their crimes involved theft and harassing the local dockworkers. In 1988, whilst returning alone from the Provanmill, Arthur was run over by a car in an attempt by a rival gang to take him out. "For example when we were following them we suspected they were using jamming equipment because there wasn't any signals coming from the vehicles when they used phones or any other digital devices. He died in hospital a short time later. Fights between gangs were called scuttles, and reporters soon christened Hillier King of the Scuttlers. He was so happy with the name that he had it sewn on the front of his shirt. The arrest set in motion a chain of events which unravelled a vast criminal network. The pub was known as the hub for Arthurs crime empire, where he was known to take charge of organised crime for more than thirty years. One seaside chippy near Glasgow has come out on top at the National Fish and Chip Awards beating out other chippies around the UK by "setting the highest standard in fish and chips". Blink is, or was, an armed robber and gangland enforcer, but he isn't without a sense of humour. Police raid the Shell garage owned by Russell Stirton in 2004, "Assets and cash worth 5.6million were seized. He added: A book written about Tam asks was he a man standing on the edge looking over his shoulder? Then he went to war. As a result detectives had to carry out a number of risk management meetings to assess the technical capability of the group and determine whether covert officers were at risk of being detected. Read on to know about the most notorious gangsters of all time! John McCartney and Craig Devlin were taken to hospital after a masked gunman fired at the duo. Paul Carbone, Auguste Ricord, and Lucien Sarti are among the most notorious gangsters of European origins. Read about our approach to external linking. Benjamin Bunny 'rare' 50p coin selling on eBay for 200 as Glaswegians urged to check change. Because of a shortage of late opening shops, the vans could legitimately make 200 profit a week (700 now) selling food, soft drinks, sweets and cigarettes on top of the traditional cones and wafers. Or was he a friendly family man who loved his family? In 2002, he was stabbed near his luxury home in Mount Vernon, only saved by the bullet proof vest he was wearing. The mysterious street has been described as Glasgows hidden gem. Lorry driver David Sell, who abducted Allan after he was unable to pay a 30,000 drug debt, was also a key figure. In 1857, they were key players in the huge Fourth of July riots. Former soldier Martyn Fitzsimmons was the gang's main ballistics expert and was jailed in 2008 for supplying stolen army weapons to crime groups, including the Daniel family. The former Celtic hero has been restricted to mostly appearances from the bench in the English Premier League this season with most of his minutes coming in the Europa League and cups. Surveillance officers were watching the silver Yaris when they spotted Mark Richardson. Assets and cash worth 5.6million were seized. He then returned to Glasgow where he set up the notorious Barlanark Team who carried out a series of post office robberies across Scotland using McGraws skills. The establishment of numerous factories and dockyards in Glasgow made it one of the most popular destinations for these newly displaced workers, and what had been an important but small city was soon the largest in Scotland. Within minutes the early morning blaze had spread through the family home and of the nine people sleeping inside, only three survived. Al Capone ($1.3 Billion) Al Capone is perhaps the most notorious gangster of all time, and was also one of the richest. Since dead rabbit was slang for someone who started fights, the breakaway faction decided to use that as their new name. Hillier joined the gang when he was just 14. 1920s fascist politician William Joyce sports an eerie Glasgow smile. Dan headed up to Birmingham to meet bestselling author and celebrity local historian Carl Chinn to learn the true history behind 19th century Birmingham's most notorious gang members: the Peaky Blinders. Glasgow gangsters earn their stripes the hard way usually a long facial slash from a sharp-bladed instrument. Mandelbaum herself thought highly of women who wanted to do something other than housework and even opened a school to train the next generation of female thieves and pickpockets. Perhaps the best-known instance of the Glasgow smile is the one which disfigured the beautiful Elizabeth Short, known after her death as The Black Dahlia. Short was a waitress and aspiring actress in Los Angeles when her mutilated body was discovered one January morning in 1947. Stirton continues to fight the judgement and last October was awarded 932,273 in legal aid, probably more than the worth the seized assets, to carry on the fight. In 2014 she was brought from prison and ordered to repay 25,000. MCGRAW IS HELD AFTER HENCHMEN ARE SHOT; Gangster asked police for escort to hospital. Currently on the market for offers over 210,000, the fixer upper house could be the ideal project for someone looking to flex their DIY muscles to make the house their own. This grisly mutilation is so pervasive that it can even be found in medical textbooks that feature recommended methods of treatment. This is not novel in Glasgow. "We suspected they were jamming the airwaves and that was making it difficult for us. At the time, New Yorks fire brigades were largely gang-runit was common to see competing brigades fighting each other at the scene of a fire. Wikimedia CommonsElizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia, was found in early 1947 with her face sliced into the characteristic Glasgow grin. He succeeded and closed the 1930s with the various gangs broken up and their leaders in jail. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He succeeded and closed the 1930s with the various gangs broken up and their leaders in jail. This book follows his trials and tribulations as he led his gang into open warfare against other Glasgow gangs like the Tongs. Foley briefly tried to get the gang off of the criminal path, but failed. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Find out more about how we use your information in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Who was the real Tam McGraw, gangland figure or wise investor? The National Crime Agency has estimated that 90bn of criminal money is being laundered through the UK every year, 4% of the country's GDP. An estimated 5,000 gang members took part in the Fourth of July riots, which raged for days. A 17-year-old laborer was ultimately found guilty of the murder and hanged for the crime, but the gangs activities continued. "We had a key fob on a key that said 'Annie' and we were in Anniesland. It is home to the most wonderful array of independent, local, artistic businesses in the city and possibly the rest of Scotland. There he met face-to-face with cartels to source high-purity cocaine. In addition to the core male members of the group, the women associated with the gang were right in the thick of things, often acting as decoys. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The Glasgow smile was also by no means bound to Britain alone. Glasgow has always had a reputation as a tough town, and things were no different in the late 1800s. Dad-of-three shot dead in gun horror survived earlier attempt on his life. Desperate to suppress Glasgow's growing reputation as a violent criminal underworld, city elders recruited Percy Sillitoe, a veteran policeman of the United Kingdom, to combat the gangs. The Birdman. Growing up in the tough district of Toxteth in Liverpool, Curtis 'Cocky' Warren had a life of juvenile crime before becoming a bouncer in the city centre of Liverpool. The tragic victims were Andrew, his father James Doyle, 53, sister Christina Halleron, 25, her 18-month-old son Mark, their brother James, 23 and their younger brother Tony, 14. Clockwise from top left: Gerard Docherty, Steven McCardle, Francis Mulligan, David Sell, Barry O'Neill and Martyn Fitzsimmons. Gangs in the 50s & 60s Young children in the Gorbals, an impoverished area in South Glasgow. Glasgow Shawarma King crowned best kebab shop in Scotland at UK awards. Glasgow city centre serious assault leaves victim in hospital as police hunt suspect. Located on Bilsand Drive, many thought the venue was closed and derelict for years when it was, in fact, still open. After a lengthy delay the case was finally heard over 130 days before Lady Stacey in the Court of Session in May 2009 and the two 'convicted', although the verdict does not involve a criminal record. He penned an 18-month loan but that has been cut short. Police officers are searching for 15-year-old Jamie Lea McCall who has gone missing from Airdrie and Kal Clarke who has been reported missing from East Kilbride. Beattie is the owner of Glasgow 's theatre -bar venue Oran Mor, home to the Play, Pie and A Pint theatre phenomenon. He penned an 18-month loan but that has been cut short. In late summer last year he got into a barney on a Spanish holiday flight with another man who called him a fanny. Last February he still owed 136,000 and was hauled back to court, which heard his house in East Kibride was on the point of being sold to clear the debt. Det Ch Supt McLean said the case highlights the force's need to invest in technology and become "digitally enabled". WARNING: Graphic images within this article. He died in hospital a short time later. But there was also trouble at home. Keeping up the good work at Woodlands Glencoe, Police clamp down on biker gangs in Barrhead and Neilston, New Cumnock: Three teens in savage brick attack on girl, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. A source told the Daily Record: McCartney now rarely seems to leave the house, he has been a wanted man for a while., Sign up to our Glasgow Live nostalgia newsletters for more local history and heritage content straight to your inbox. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. It was run by Arthurs son - Arthur Junior, until he was shot dead in 1991. In January 1884, the body of a Spanish sailor was found in the city, brutally beaten and stabbed in a way that was terrifyingly reminiscent of the murders carried out by a gang that had been operating in the area a decade earlier. Police from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency bugged his home and the information they heard led to them tracing bags of cash with nearly 600,000 inside, 55 luxury watches worth 307,000 as well as evidence of an attempt to set up the taxi firm, doubtless for further laundering. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. She left behind a multi-million-pound family fortune and it remains a mystery to this day where the money ended up. Police have appealed for the public's help in finding Ruan Lungley, who hasn't been seen since leaving his home in the town after 11pm last night, if you can help call 101 immediately. He feared no-one, but was feared by many. In 2004 the crime lord was declared bankrupt over a 12,700 income tax debt for undeclared earnings. Over 140 objections were submitted in response to plans to build flats on Ingram Street with concerns raised that the development could threaten the future of a nearby music venue. While its not clear just how accurate that particular story is, the gang featured in the BBC television series Peaky Blinders was absolutely real. After learning the grim history behind the Glasgow smile, learn about another torturous act known as the Blood Eagle, a Viking punishment almost too brutal to be real. Look inside three-bedroom house up for sale in Glasgow south side, Angry scenes in Dumbarton as riot police pelted with bricks and fireworks as house attacked. During a criminal career spanning more than 35 years, Tam McGraw was feared and hated in equal measures. Lord Haw-Haw. Copyright 2023 Farlex, Inc. | He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. It has been alleged over the years that McGraw was responsible for ordering the hit on the Doyle flat. The mysterious street has been described as Glasgows hidden gem. The Light Blues have allowed the midfielder to return to his parent club early ahead of the start of the new MLS season. Around this time the couple moved down to London to escape the attentions of the police where they both found work. Diamond was a bootlegger during the famous prohibition era. Paisley dad's leg 'explodes' when he is hit by stray firework at party. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. The younger son Billy took over briefly until he was seriously assaulted. For a time, polling places were an incredibly dangerous place to bebut for some, the gang was a mechanism for social reform. Officers are appealing for information on the man pictured. Three houses including Stirton's, The Limes, in Mugdock were seized along other assets totalling 922,000. Before long, all that remained was rubble. As a result, he and his family were targeted with horrific consequences. The Dead Rabbits eventually became aligned with the incredibly corrupt Tammany Hall organization and could often be seen at polling stations running off anyone who wasnt going to vote their way. First Bus offer free service to Scotstoun Stadium for Glasgow Warriors games. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. At the High Court in Glasgow later that year Thomas TC Campbell, 31, and associate Joe Steele, 22, were found guilty of killing the Doyles. HE was one of Glasgows most notorious gangsters said to have made a 30 million fortune from a life of crime. Missing 12-year-old schoolboy sparks police hunt to bring him home. 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