Savage gangland murder plot sees six men convicted

● Judge says they wanted to turn city ‘into a warzone’

Six men are behind bars after being convicted of a savage gangland murder plot.

Brian Ferguson, 37, Andrew Gallacher, 40, Robert Pickett, 54, John Hardie, 35, Andrew Sinclair, 32, and Peter Bain, 45, were convicted following a 14-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The gang were said to be part of the Lyons crime mob – long-time enemies of the Daniel clan in the north of the city.

A wave of violence erupted in December 2016 es cala ting after the school shooting of Ross Monaghan– once cleared of murdering Daniel enforcer Kevin ‘Gerbil’ Carroll.

Five men were ambushed in a series of attacks over a 15-month period.

A main target was ex-taxi firm boss Steven “Bonzo” Daniel – nephew of late crimelord Jamie Daniel.

He suffered grotesque facial wounds after an attack close to the Glasgow’s M8 motorway in May 2017.

Supermarket worker Ryan Fitzsimmons was one of the other four set upon – an innocent caught up in the violence.

The 34-year-old is the brother of ex-army veteran turned gun-runner MartynFitz simmons. He ended up brain damaged–selected as apparent revenge shortly after his sibling was held for shooting Monaghan in April 2017.

Mr Fitzsimmons recalled: “It felt like death was coming”.

Targets were tailed using sophisticated tracking devices – helped by a shadowy “one man band” company based in Manchester.

The mob also used highpower stolen getaway cars as well as encrypted mobile phones to try and communicate in secret.

The six were yesterday found guilty of a charge of conspiracy to murder.

Lord Mulholland told them the courts take a dim view of such “gangsterous conduct”.

The judge added :“You sought to turn Glasgow into a warzone with your feud.”

He said any suggestion of a “private” dispute “could not be further from the truth”.

Lord Mulholland said: “B e under no illusion what will be coming your way when you return to court.”

The mob were remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.

The Lyons and Daniel clans have reportedly bee nina long-running tit-for-tat feud stretching back almost 20 years.

The trial took place amid tightened security with police providing a ring of steel each day around the building.