Paul Ferris, a notorious figure in the Scottish criminal underworld, has died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday aged 62 after a brief illness. His death has prompted celebrations among the family of Glasgow crime boss Arthur Thompson.
In 1992, Ferris was unanimously found not guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of the murder of 31-year-old Arthur "Fatboy" Thompson jnr in what was then the longest running trial in Scottish criminal history. The victim was the son of Glasgow crime boss Arthur Thompson, for whom Ferris previously worked as an enforcer and debt collector.
Family celebrates on social media
Posts appearing on social media following Ferris's death suggest the Thompsons were raising a glass, with the family reportedly convinced of his involvement in Arthur jnr's killing. One message from Thompson jnr's younger sister Tracey, 61, featured a smiley face emoji alongside a photograph of a glass of champagne alongside a bottle of fizz.
She also shared a similar image bearing the message: "It would be rude not to." In reply, one female Thompson relative simply stated: "Enjoy." A third post from a friend read: "Raise a bottle for the family."
Another female member of the Thompson family, in an apparent reference to Arthur jnr's killing, remarked: "I think we are going to need another Magnum bottle to celebrate properly after 34 years, even Walter Mitty couldn't dream up a wait like this."
Family source speaks out
A family source revealed: "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. It seems to be a case of the Godfather's revenge."
Tracey Thompson remains one of the few surviving relatives of the family. Arthur snr passed away in 1993 aged 63 after suffering a heart attack at the family residence in Provanmill, Glasgow. Mum Rita died in 2006 aged 72. Tracey's other brother Billy, who had a history of drug problems, died in 2017 aged 50. Their sister Margaret died aged 28 in 1989 from a suspected drugs overdose. All of the family members are understood to be interred in a plot at Riddrie Park Cemetery.
Background to the murder
On the day of Thompson jnr's funeral in September 1991, two of the three men suspected of his murder, Joe Hanlon, 23, and Bobby Glover, 31, were discovered dead in Hanlon's Ford Orion outside the Cottage Bar in Shettleston. Both had been shot. The third suspect, Ferris, had already been charged with Thompson jnr's murder and was being held on remand at Glasgow's Barlinnie prison. All three men were close associates who regularly met at the Cottage Bar.
The double killing was viewed as retaliation by Thompson snr following his son's death, who had been serving an 11-year sentence for heroin dealing. Thompson jnr had been released from Noranside prison in Angus on weekend parole as part of a training for freedom programme. He was shot and fatally injured on the Saturday night after leaving his parents' home to walk the short distance to his own residence where he lived with his wife and daughter.
For over three decades, his father dominated Glasgow's criminal underworld with ruthless control through his involvement in extortion, money lending, illegal casinos, robbery and drugs. A major revenue stream came from offering "protection" to pubs. He is known to have blown up a pub and social club after one owner refused to comply. At his peak, he had at least 20 pubs in Glasgow paying him £4,000 each week.
One retired publican recalled: "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 pubs, demolition firms, corner shops, garages and carpet showrooms to conceal his wealth. He forged a close alliance during the early 1960s with infamous London gangsters the Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie.
Speculation also surrounded Thompson's potential involvement in the notorious 1963 Great Train Robbery, when £2.6million (equivalent to approximately £30million today) was taken from the Glasgow to London mail train. His London visits had fostered a friendship with one of the ringleaders, Buster Edwards, who would later attend Thompson jnr's funeral.
Ferris's later life and death
Prior to his death, Thompson snr resided with his family in a garishly converted row of council houses nicknamed The Ponderosa, from the 60s cowboy TV series Bonanza. It was rumoured to be fitted with secret passages, hiding spots and its own tunnel. Thompson snr also gave evidence during Ferris's murder trial at the High Court in Glasgow and denied he was the city's crime godfather. During the same proceedings, Ferris was additionally acquitted of attempted murder and drug trafficking charges.
Six years afterwards, Ferris faced trial at the Old Bailey in London, where he was found guilty of conspiracy to sell or transfer prohibited weapons, deal in firearms and possess explosives. He received a 10-year prison sentence, subsequently reduced to seven years. During his incarceration, he published his debut book, the Ferris Conspiracy, which was adapted into a Bafta-winning movie starring Line of Duty star Martin Compston as Ferris.
Ferris consistently maintained he turned his life around following his 2001 release from prison, establishing himself as a legitimate businessman with stakes in a security firm and a construction company. He had also published five books documenting his former life of crime and was working on a follow-up to the Wee Man as well as a third film.
In his final interview, speaking to the Daily Record in July, the father of five addressed scepticism about his reformed lifestyle, stating: "I have either been an absolute criminal genius for the last 25 years or I have done nothing wrong. Take your pick."
