Jimmy Two Guns a law unto himself
I HAD the pleasure of meeting James J McIntyre, author of Jimmy Two Guns: The Life and Crimes of a Gangland Lawyer James J.McIntyre at CrimeCon in Glasgow last month.
His book, with a foreword from his longtime friend and former client Paul Ferris, I devoured in just three sittings.
It offers an account of a life spent navigating the treacherous waters of Scotland’s criminal underworld.
McIntyre’s conversational narrative style draws readers in from the off, where he recounts his dramatic arrest for possessing unlicensed guns, setting the tone for a wild legal ride.
The book provides a glimpse into his university days in Stirling and Dundee, where his penchant for challenging authority first emerges.
McIntyre vividly captures the atmosphere of 1980s Edinburgh, painting a picture of a young apprentice lawyer thrust into a world of intrigue and danger.
Throughout, he peppers the narrative with vignettes of legal figures with wit and irreverence.
McIntyre’s rollercoaster legal career is marked by a series of escapades, from his legendary seven-day “lie down” in Saughton Prison to his narrow escape from machete-wielding thugs.
His courtroom battles provide ample entertainment, showcasing his resourcefulness.
Despite his rebellious nature,
McIntyre displays a hint of remorse for the distress he caused his elderly mum.
As a man who straddled both sides of the law, McIntyre offers a unique perspective on our criminal justice system and its flaws and complexities. Described as a real-life Tom Hagen, McIntyre’s role as a middleman to gangsters adds a layer of intrigue.
His accounts of high-profile cases and clashes with the authorities reveal Scotland’s murky underworld and his ability to bounce back from near-fatal attacks underscores his tenacity. McIntyre’s resilience shines through as he reinvents himself as a TV writer with scripts for Taggart and EastEnders. And the good news is there are more McIntyre books in the
pipeline.
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