He gave evidence against the man accused of his sons murder, Paul Ferris, in 1992 at the High Court in Glasgow. She had lived in the same house in Provanmill since Mr Thompson died of a heart attack in 1993. Glasgow's gangsters, Arthur Thompson - the Godfather, Glasgow bakery Mortons Rolls 'ceases all trading' in 'hammer blow' to city. READ MORE:The Glasgow crime story of the mysterious murder of wealthy Marion Gilchrist in 1908. Download Glasgow gangster Arthur Thompson with his wife Rita Thompson, c.1970 (b/w photo) from Bridgeman Images archive a library of millions of art, Arthur was an enforcer in Scotland for the Krays during the late Fifties, and by the mid-Sixties had established a chain of pubs and dance halls, popular haunts for gangsters. [8][7], Thompson's daughter, Margaret, died from a drug overdose in 1989. A funeral mass will be held at 11 AM, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Galena where friends may gather after 10:30 AM until the time of mass. Richard Thompson, live Glasgow Scotland October 1999, recorded by me from Digital broadcast. Three years later, a car mounted the pavement outside his home and ran him over. His team, the Barlanark Gang, initially continued paying him a cut, but the two sides quickly fell out as the Gang found new paymasters. As money rolled in, they converted their council home into a palace, buying the property next door and knocking the two together. Anniversary. On the morning of young Arthur's funeral, a month after his murder, their bodies were discovered outside the Cottage Bar, in Shettleston, Glasgow. Get the latest crime news direct to your inbox with the Glasgow Crime and Courts newsletter. By 1966, Arthur Thompson was all-powerful in Glasgow. He then walked the few yards from one court to another to give evidence in the Welshes murder trial. READ MORE:The Glasgow crime story of the murder of Jackie Gallagher. MS-13 worked with Mexican drug cartels regularly and is becoming ever more active in the United States. [5] Their bodies had been dumped on the route of Fatboy's funeral procession, so that his hearse passed their dead bodies. AROUND a hundred mourners yesterday attended the funeral of gangster's wife Rita Thompson. [10] On the day of Thompson Jr's funeral a car was found containing the bodies of two friends of Ferris, Robert Glover and Joe Hanlon, who were also suspected of involvement in his death and had been killed by gunshots to the back of the head and the anus. However, Rita never sang a note. . In May, veteran gangland boss Frank McPhee was shot through the head on his doorstep, as his 11-year-old son looked on in terror. He was buried in the family plot at Riddrie Cemetery beside Arthur Jnr and daughter, Margaret, who suffered a drugs overdose in 1989. Three months later, Thompson narrowly escaped death when he was in a car that exploded outside his house. Although Thompson wasnt a tall man, he was powerfully built with a chilling stare that could terrify both friend and foe alike. She was a graduate of the Fort Fairfield High School, class of 1963, and had been employed as a C.N.A . Kathy Friend, 60, lost her battle with secondary liver and bone cancer on February 19 but she is remembered for touching the lives of many with her amazing community projects. He is known to have blown up a bar and social club after one owner refused to comply. Editors' Code of Practice. Thompson later gave a personal undertaking to the police that he would not harm the two officers. Secret reports on Thompson from the late 1960s made public for the first time by the Scottish Government in 2010 present a chilling portrait of the man. Rita, stabbed the wife of Patrick Welsh in the chest. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The 64-year-old woman was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital following the crash on Elmbank Street last month. 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. For more than 30 years until his death in 1993 Arthur Thompson ruled Glasgows criminal underworld with an iron fist through his interests in extortion, money lending, illegal casinos, robbery, and drugs. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Rita Thompson (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), who passed away at the age of 64, on August 18, 2021. He had been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland. On one occasion, the then BBC broadcaster accompanied Thompson to an underworld pub in London. The newest bar in Glasgow's west end is run by the same people behind popular city centre bar Tingle on Mitchell Street. Visitation will be . He saw little of his father and mother a mixed marriage in the Glasgow sense, father a Catholic, mother a Protestant romping around the area, avoiding school and police, whatever criminal mischief was afoot Wattie was at the heart of it. It is now open and serving up cocktails, other drinks and food. Fraser, now dead, once recalled: Down south, we viewed Glasgow as the Wild West. The Mungiki sect emerged from Kenyas biggest ethnic group; known as the Kikuyu. Arthur also enjoyed hobnobbing with celebrities. THE widow of Arthur Thompson, the former Glasgow godfather, has died. Feedback | He was friendly with another legendary London gangster too Mad Frankie Fraser. Rangers vs Kilmarnock starting team news as Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin in but no Malik Tillman. When he came out his era had passed. It was the end of an astonishing era. contact the editor here. We identified 2 records related to "Rita Thompson" in the state of Kentucky. The 56-year-old had been reported missing on Sunday. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. THE widow of Arthur Thompson, the former Glasgow godfather, has died. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com. They were heavily involved in the violence in the ethnic Luos area which claimed the lives of several hundred people. Join Facebook to connect with Rita and others you may know. Arthur survived the bomb attack but his mother-in-law Margaret Johnstone was killed outright. For all advertising and other non-editorial uses contact the GIW office for further information. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. In 1969 Thompson's wife, Rita, forced her way into the Welsh home, stabbed Patrick Welsh's wife in the chest, and was jailed for three years. He drove his car directly at their van and forced it off the road. She was born September 4, 1944, in Fort Fairfield, the daughter of Stephen Jr. and Rita (Theriault) Murphy. [11] Ferris claimed the younger Thompson had been shot by a hit man known only as "The Apprentice". The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. Beatings and slashings were routinely inflicted on anyone who failed to pay up. Extended: Glasgow's crime godfather Arthur Thompson and the murder of his son, The Glasgow crime story of the murder of Jackie Gallagher, The Glasgow crime story of the mysterious murder of wealthy Marion Gilchrist in 1908, The Glasgow Crime Story of Eleni Pachou who was murdered in her work Di Maggio's. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Rita M. Glasgow Obituary. Readers comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. During his trips to London, hed become friends with one of the ring leaders, Buster Edwards, who would later attend the funeral of Arthurs murdered son, Arthur Jnr in 1991, When fellow gang member Ronnie Biggs was asked shortly before his death in 2013 if Arthur was involved in the robbery, Biggs replied cryptically: I might be dying but Im not a grass.. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Obituaries & obituary notices in Glasgow. Fatboy was very different to his father. The violence was on a much, much higher level. In the 1960s, his wife Rita was employed as a singer, with one pub paying a fee of 200 for each performance the equivalent of 4000 in todays money. But since the death of his father and brother that reputation is no more. He added: "Thompson is the leader of the hardcore of thugs in Aberdeen prison. Both men were bitter rivals of Thompson. The recent stabbing of a gangland godfather's son has reignited the battle for control of a 300m drugs market. heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment. Shortly afterwards, he spotted two men he suspected of the attack, Patrick Welsh and James Goldie, members of the rival Welsh family Blackhill gang. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. This 936 square foot home is the last known address for Rita. Thompson later gave a personal undertaking to a senior police officer that he would not harm the two officers. There was a massive turnout for young Arthurs funeral that afternoon with key members of the citys underworld there to pay their respects to both the victim and more importantly his father. Copyright 2023 Bridgeman Art Library Limited. The following year, the Mungiki fought against Kenyan police and two officers died. 74 members of the sect were arrested. Today, the Mungikis membership is approximately 500,000, and it is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the worlds deadliest gangs. Once, when giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow, Arthur Thompson even joked about speaking with cotton wool in his mouth a technique Brando used to sound like a mob boss. Father Neil McGarrity has been placed on the sex offenders register after being found guilty of four sexual assaults and one charge of engaging in sexual activity. We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments. One theory is that McPhee had tried to muscle in on the drug trade controlled by former Irish terrorists. Results for Rita have been distilled from over 6 billion consumer records found online and offline. "He will inevitably return to his lucrative club management and his position as a leader of the Glasgow criminal fraternity. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Thompson himself had been known for punishing enemies or bad debtors by nailing their hands and feet to the floor crucifixion-style. Pentatln femenino. Another local hard man, Paul Ferris, was charged with Fat Boy's murder, but cleared after Scotland's longest criminal trial. The gang is sometimes referred to as the Kenyan version of the Yakuza, Mafia or Cosa Nostra due to its organization. When they arrived in Los Angeles, they encountered an established system of Latin gangs and were not welcome. One police file said: The overall picture of Thompson is that of aviolent, vicious and active criminal who will stop at nothing to uphold his position in the underworld as a hard man and to gain his own ends.. Rita Thompson, 72, who had throat cancer, died on Tuesday. Norval's daughter, Rita Gunn, is charged with conspiring to damage the court but acquitted. United Kingdom, {"event":"pageview","page_type1":"catalog","page_type2":"image_page","language":"en","user_logged":"false","user_type":"ecommerce","nl_subscriber":"false"}, {"event":"ecommerce_event","event_name":"view_item","event_category":"browse_catalog","ecommerce":{"items":[{"item_id":"MPX5165602","item_brand":"other","item_category":"photo","item_category2":"no_copyright","item_category3":"standard","item_category5":"not_balown","item_list_name":"search_results","item_name":"glasgow_gangster_arthur_thompson_with_his_wife_rita_thompson_c_1970_b_w_photo","item_variant":"undefined"}]}}. On the day of his funeral a month later, the bodies of Joe Hanlon and Bobby Glover were discovered outside the Cottage Bar, a pub they used in Shettleston, Glasgow. Kenyas security forces had to act and stormed into the Mathare region. All rights reserved. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. With 50 years experience providing images from the most prestigious museums, collections and artists. Additionally, Ora has shared photos with both Waititi and Thompson. Thompson would also carry out hits for the Krays in London and they would do the same in return in Glasgow. Joe Jackson was with his older brother John when they saw Thompson, in his top-of-the-range Jaguar, force a van into a lamp post, killing the occupants, James Goldie and Patrick Welsh. Glasgow veterinary hospital forced to close after fire reopens its doors. The young Detective Constable got out his own car and ran to a nearby petrol station to phone the emergency services, where he also found Thompson who then sped off. In August 1991, Arthur Jnr, 31, was shot dead outside the Thompson family home while on weekend leave from prison. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Rita Thompson, who had throat cancer, died in 2006 at the age of 72. Glasgow's gangsters - Arthur Thompson, the Godfather, Killings of Patrick Welsh and James Goldie, "Fears gangland enforcer Ferris moving in on Capital cab trade", http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/861134.stm, https://web.archive.org/web/20051227034428/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=474552002, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arthur_Thompson_(gangster)&oldid=1115792863, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 October 2022, at 06:54. He was Glasgows equivalent of Don Corleone, the fictional New York crime boss immortalised by Marlon Brando in the classic Oscar-winning Godfather movie. Although he was aging, Old Arthur was still seen as a threat, so his enemies wanted to remove him from the picture permanently. Police stopped a 38-year-old man on the A82 near Renton today for driving a vehicle which was in a state of disrepair. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . Population Served Men who have experienced chronic homelessness She revealed her dying wish when she was told she was losing her battle with throat cancer, according to a former henchman of her late husband. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Veteran crime reporter Ron McKay tells the story of Walter Norval, the former boss of Glasgow's infamous XYY Gang. Thompson would also carry out hits for the Krays in London and they would do the same in return in Glasgow. Three years later, Ferris was accused of the murder of the Fatboy who was shot three times outside of his home. In dramatic scenes, Thompson and the Welshes both stood trial at the same time at the High Court in Glasgow. Teacher strikes suspended as union backs new Scottish Government pay offer. Glasgows criminal underbelly was laid bare during three months of evidence and its hard-won City of Culture status took a battering. Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. He was caught and, as criminals did at the time, called for the legendary lawyer Joe Beltrami, who hired advocate Nicky Fairbairn to defend him. Rita Thompson building. Ironically Ferriss incarceration by the authorities saved his life. READ MORE:The Glasgow Crime Story of Eleni Pachou who was murdered in her work Di Maggio's. Which was only partly true because he hurt many nobodies. Discover work experience, company details, and more. Ironically Ferris was a former friend and ally of the Thompson family, said to be closer to the father than even his own son. Perhaps a more fitting coda from the band might have been, I fought the law and the law won. It may be one of the few occasions when the law had got the better of him. On the eve of it the north court of the High Court in Glasgow is set on fire by Norval's mob in attempt to burn all the files on the case they believe are held in the vaults. We found 1021 people named Rita S Thompson. - but was later drafted for National Service, which he was determined to avoid, as he had much of school. He would have given his last penny to anybody, and he often did., Trouble was it was someone else's money. They can be seen laughing and seemingly kissing each other. View the profiles of people named Rita. Arthur survived, but his mother-in-law was killed. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories. HP10 9TY. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? His coffin was carried by members of a biker club, his six daughters and a granddaughter all wore matching red outfits and music from the Clash blared out as the retinue made its way into the crematorium. Even when his own son was murdered outside his front door, he ordered his family not to give them statements or tell what they had seen. The violence was on a much, much higher level. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Glasgow Live. He has since been jailed for involvement in a firearms conspiracy. Legend has it that the crime boss later viewed the bodies and shot both men in the chest with another gun. The goal was to protect Kikuyu farmers in their land disputes with the Maasai and local government forces dominated by the Kalenjin tribe. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please After several escapes from camp he was sentenced to 18 months hard labour for slashing another soldier with shards of glass. When he was sent to Inverness after one escapade, a 21-inch metal cosh was found inside his pillow. Thompsons name was enough to strike fear into anyone who crossed him. If that was true then young Arthurs decision to take the night air was to prove fatal. Bridgeman Images Veterinary hospital McDonald Vets, in Scotstoun in the west of Glasgow, has resumed a full service after closing for several months following the blaze in August 2022. Police are probing his links with a big dogfighting ring. Both men died, but Arthur escaped prosecution because no witness would testify against him. [8] [7] Other children [ edit] Thompson's daughter, Margaret, died from a drug overdose in 1989. In 1988 Arthur was shot in the groin outside The Ponderosa. Thompson in turn was accused of the culpable homicide of Goldie and Welsh. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can In his 2009 autobiography, legendary Scottish football commentator Archie Macpherson revealed he was paid up to 500 a time in the early 1980s to host events organised by Thompson. By the early 1980's Thompson - now in his 50's - was all-powerful in Glasgow and beyond. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Again, Arthur survived and refused to make any statement to the police. In 1988, Thompson had another lucky escape when he was shot in the groin in a demolition yard he owned in the East End of Glasgow. Glasgow gangster Arthur Thompson, known as The Godfather, pictured with his wife Rita Thompson.Circa 1970. Commuters will have the chance to grab some pre-loved fashion bargains later this month, with the money raised helping Shelter Scotland amidst the housing emergency. Thompson was one of the most feared criminals in Scotland. Rita M. Glasgow, 89, of Galena, died Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at Galena Stauss Senior Care Community, Galena surrounded by her family. YASSER FEVER; TENS OF THOUSANDS MOB ARAFAT COFFIN. Both bodies are thought to have been stored at business premises not far from the Cottage Bar overnight, then driven to Darleith Street around mid-morning. Its rumoured Thompson was present when Ronnie infamously shot George Cornell of the rival Richardson gang in Londons Blind Beggar pub in 1966. There were 6,656 official murders in the nation in 2015 and in 2016; there was a homicide every hour in the first few months of the year. His other son, Billy died in 2017 as a result of his drug addiction. See Rita S Thompson's age, phone number, house address, email address, social media accounts, public records, and check for criminal records on Spokeo. Glasgow priest found guilty of abusing four young girls walks free from court. In the photos, the three can be seen relaxing and having drinks on a balcony in Sydney after "an all-night party," the Daily Mail reported. Also known as MS-13, Mara Salvatrucha is arguably the most dangerous gang in the United States at present and they are apparently the gang that the FBI is most worried about. His rivals tried and failed to eliminate him in 1966 when a bomb exploded under his car. The spot where Fat Boy died is just a few yards from where Billy Thompson was stabbed 10 months ago during the unsuccessful first attempt on his life and a short distance from the site of the most recent attack. While some American readers may know about MS-13 as they apparently operate in 42 states, the gang was relatively unknown outside of the Americas until recently. Shelter Scotland launch Glasgow Central Station pop up clothes shops. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. 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 Thompsons place.. In his summing up Lord McCluskey, the trial judge, described the case an extraordinary catalogue of lies and deceit, cruelty and death. The police breakthrough came, inevitably, from an informant and many of the gang were found in Norval's Maryhill airt and in the south side under the noses of the authorities, just yards from the Orkney Street police office. All rights reserved. As his power and wealth grew, so did his influence. In his 2009 autobiography, legendary Scottish football commentator Archie MacPherson revealed he was paid up to 500 a time in the early 1980s to host events organised by Thompson. In the United States, MS-13 is making its deadly mark. She sadly passed away on Wednesday, March 1. Thank you to whichever member of staff was responsible! Add up to 5 colours and slide the dividers to adjust the composition, Click for a quote that fits your requirements. For webmasters |, COPYRIGHT 2006 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday. Campbell, convicted of the 1984 Ice Cream Murders when six members of the Doyle family died in a blaze in Ruchazie, Glasgow, has, like Ferris, long accused McGraw of building his criminal empire. He hobbled into the Sheriff Court to plead guilty to having 15 of cannabis which he claimed he used to alleviate arthritis. Head of crime clan Arthur Thompson His father ruled Glasgow's crime scene and was rumoured to have raked in 100,000 a week from protection rackets. Comments have been closed on this article. photos. When it comes to selling coins, there is a lot to consider and if you aren't too sure about what collectors are after, selling it can be quite tricky. They don't succeed and the trial eventually goes ahead in the south court. In his day, he said, "gangsters were hard men. By the 1980s, Glasgow was in the midst of a heroin epidemic as the drug flooded into the city in a market worth up to 30 million. "His depravity is veneered with conformity and deadly quietness, and he is difficult to undermine when he is on the alert. Tributes have been paid to Rita Rusk, once dubbed Scotland's first lady of hairdressing, after her death at the age of 75. 3 - The Thompson Gang . Let's take a critical look at the truth about Walter Norval, rather than the sepia-tinted mythology. Arthur was also involved in legitimate enterprises such as pubs, demolition, corner shops, garages, and carpet showrooms to keep his assets hidden and launder money from his various criminal enterprises. BROOKS John to Elizabeth (McInally) on 19th June 1971, in the parish of the Immaculate Heart of. [citation needed], Over 300 witnesses, including Thompson Sr,[11] were called to give evidence at a trial which lasted fifty four days and cost 4.1 million, at the time the longest[7] and most expensive trial in Scottish legal history. [8] He had been given two-and-a-half years, reduced on appeal to 18 months. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's He accused Paul Ferris, a former enforcer for the gang, of trying to kill him in 1988. For more than 30 years until his death in 1993 Thompson ruled Glasgows criminal underworld with an iron fist through his interests in extortion, money lending, illegal casinos, robbery, and drugs. He is a consummate villain. At one time, he had at least 20 pubs in Glasgow paying him 4000 each week. Legend has it that the crime boss later viewed the bodies and shot both men in the chest with another gun. View Anniversary. As we release the first episode of our Glasgow Crime Stories podcast, read the extended version of telling the story of infamous crime godfather Arthur Thompson and the murder of his son. He might have observed the criminal code but never the marital one. When fellow gang member Ronnie Biggs was asked shortly before his death in 2013 if Arthur was involved in the robbery, Biggs replied cryptically: I might be dying but Im not a grass.. To survive, they formed their own group and called themselves Mara (Central American term for Gang) Salvatrucha (Salva comes from El Salvador, and Trucha means clever). Other papers record Thompson trying to stir up a hunger strike and pressing inmates to petition for better privileges and visiting rights. Ferris trial was the longest and most expensive in Scottish history up to that point, but he was acquitted. Search by name or location to find online obituaries. Tributes paid to 'vibrant' Glasgow community hero who tragically died after long cancer battle. Others probably organised the double execution as a favour to him and out of respect. However, despite the murder of his son, the Godfather wasn't quite finished yet. ', Tell-tale sign a coin is rare as expert urges Glaswegians to check change. Like any other inmate, he regularly applied for parole and the previously secret documents reflected the view of the authorities had of him at the time. The car was deliberately placed on the funeral route. They had been shot in the head and the anus. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to
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