The family of Glasgow crime lord Arthur Thompson snr celebrated the death of Paul Ferris with champagne, 34 years after he was acquitted of murdering the crime boss's son.
Ferris died in Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on Tuesday (October 6) at the age of 62 following a brief illness. In 1992, he was unanimously cleared at the High Court in Glasgow of the murder of 31-year-old Arthur "Fatboy" Thompson jnr in what was then the longest trial in Scottish criminal history.
Family celebrates with champagne
A member of the Thompson family shared a photo featuring a bottle of bubbly just hours after news emerged that Ferris had passed away. They captioned it: "It would be rude not to." Another posted on social media: "I think we are going to need another Magnum bottle to celebrate properly after 34 years."
A family source told the Daily Record: "The Thompsons have never spoken publicly about young Arthur's murder or the fact that Paul Ferris was found not guilty. Ferris's sudden death now appears to have become a cause for celebration, 34 years after he walked free from the High Court." The source added: "It seems to be a case of the Godfather's revenge."
Family history and losses
Arthur Thompson snr passed away in 1993 aged 63 after suffering a heart attack at the family residence in Provanmill, Glasgow. Mother Rita died in 2006 aged 72. Tracey's other brother Billy, who battled drug addiction, passed away in 2017 aged 50. Their sister Margaret died aged 28 in 1989 from a suspected drugs overdose.
All family members are believed to be interred in a plot at Riddrie Park Cemetery in Glasgow. On the day of Thompson jnr's funeral in September 1991, two of the three men suspected of the killing, Joe Hanlon, 23, and Bobby Glover, 31, were discovered dead in Hanlon's Ford Orion outside the Cottage Bar in Shettleston, Glasgow. Both had been shot. The third suspect, Ferris, had already been charged with Thompson jnr's murder and was being held on remand in Glasgow's Barlinnie prison.
Thompson's criminal empire
For over three decades, Arthur Thompson snr dominated Glasgow's criminal empire with ruthless control through his involvement in extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling establishments, theft and narcotics. One of his primary revenue streams was offering "protection" services to licensed premises. He is known to have destroyed a pub and social club when one proprietor refused to cooperate. At his peak, he had no fewer than 20 establishments in Glasgow paying him £4000 weekly.
One retired publican said: "To stop trouble all the landlord or bar manager in one of those pubs needed to say was, 'This is Arthur Thompson's place'." Thompson snr also operated legitimate businesses including licensed premises, demolition companies, corner shops, motor garages and carpet retailers to conceal his wealth.
Ferris's later life
During Ferris's murder trial at Glasgow's High Court, Thompson snr testified, refuting claims he was the city's criminal overlord. Ferris was also acquitted of attempted murder and drugs charges in the same proceedings. Six years later, Ferris was found guilty at London's Old Bailey of conspiring to sell or transfer banned weapons, dealing in firearms and possessing explosives. He received a 10-year jail term, subsequently cut to seven years.
Behind bars, he penned his debut book, the Ferris Conspiracy. The story was later adapted into a Bafta-winning film featuring Line of Duty actor Martin Compston in the role of Ferris. Ferris consistently maintained he had gone legitimate following his 2001 prison release, establishing himself as a respectable businessman with stakes in a security outfit and building firm. He also released five books chronicling his former criminal past and had been plotting a follow-up to the Wee Man as well as a third film. In his final interview, with the Daily Record in July, the father of five said: "I have either been an absolute criminal genius for the last 25 years or I have done nothing wrong. Take your pick."
