Everything you wanted to know about Scotland's gang wars but were too afraid to ask

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Q:Who’s Who in Scotland’s big crime gangs....

A: The most notorious organised crime gangs in Scotland are the Lyons and Daniel clans.

Both are based in the north of Glasgow but have links to other groups nationwide.

Q: Who leads the Daniels?

A: The Daniels – headed by Steven “Bonzo” Daniel – have a long-term association to Edinburgh drug kingpin Mark Richardson.

Read More

Richardson is serving an eight-year sentence for organised crime offences linked to brothers Barry and James Gillespie.

Q: Who are the Lyons and how have they become so notorious?

A: The Lyons crime family is bossed by Steven Lyons, thought to be living in Dubai.

He left Scotland for Spain in 2006 after being targeted in a gun ambush which claimed his cousin Michael.

Hitmen Raymond Anderson and James McDonald were convicted of the murder and jailed for life.

Read More

Steven Lyons is believed to have forged links with the Kinahan crime family who are from Dublin and are considered one of Europe’s most powerful cartels.

Police believe the Kinahans are led by Marbella-based boxing promotor Daniel Kinahan who denies he is linked to crime.

Q: What other gangs are in play?

A: The Gillespies, of Rutherglen, near Glasgow, are wanted by Police Scotland for allegedly running a multi-million pound drugs and guns empire and are said to be hiding in South America.

The siblings have been linked to a number of shootings, punishment beatings and drug busts – including a record-breaking haul of cocaine which was intercepted in France in 2009.

How to get the latest crime news with the Daily Record

The Daily Record and Sunday Mail have always been at the forefront when it comes to reporting crime in Scotland.

But did you know all the ways you can stay informed of the top crime and courts headlines?

We share live crime news and exclusive court stories as well as features and columns on historical cases, keeping our readers informed and updated across the country.

Police seized 684 kilos of the drug, worth an estimated £31million, hidden among cash tills and coffee in the back of the truck registered in Scotland. The lorry had been scheduled to travel to London, then on to Glasgow.

Martyn Fitsimmons, a former soldier and Daniel clan member, is serving 10-and-a-half years for his role in a £200million drugs and arms plot linked to the Gillespies.

Q: Does this have anything to do with the Bradley Welsh murder in Edinburgh?

A: Edinburgh gangland figure George “Dode” Baigrie, a former boxer, is an ally of the Lyons family.

Baigrie was jailed for 15 years in 2003 after attacking a man with a samurai sword. He was once an associate of Richardson before they fell out.

Baigrie has a reputation for violence and was one of Scotland’s most feared inmates before his release. He was implicated in the murder of Bradley Welsh this year.

Top news stories today

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Baigrie paid hitman Sean Orman to shoot Welsh outside his home in the city in 2019.

Welsh, who had a role in Trainspotting sequel T2, was a close associate of Richardson.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .

Read More
Read More

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCrnZOkv6V6wqhlrqNfo7K4v46smqispJ7AqXnNnq6sZ5WrsrPF06Ggp59drry2edaapa2dlGK4r7vWZqqcp6Shrq%2Bw0mZpbW5jboZ1gw%3D%3D