WALTER NORVAL 1970s Old-school Godfather
WALTER Norval was the mastermind behind a string of violent armed robberies at post offices, banks and hospitals across the west of Scotland.
He and his notorious XYY gang were prepared to shoot, threaten and intimidate anyone in their pursuit of riches.
Norval – who modelled himself on US mobster John Dillinger and even wore the same pinstriped suits – made his name running gangs before moving on to protection rackets and then armed robbery.
The gang had hundreds of foot soldiers who pulled off dozens of armed robberies during the 70s – from hospitals, major works and post offices. Scores of weapons and explosives were hidden in safe houses in Glasgow. He was eventually snared by police in 1977 and spent 14 years inside.
When he was released, the Glasgow underworld had changed. In his day, he said, gangsters were hard men who fought among themselves but modern gangsters paid someone else to do their dirty work.
After his death, aged 85, in 2014, the song Bankrobber, by The Clash, was played at his funeral.