Frank McPhee, a feared Glasgow gang boss, met a mysterious end in 2000—shot by a sniper outside his home in Maryhill. His killer remains unknown.
Early Life and Rise in Glasgow’s Underworld
Born on 21 October 1948, Frank McPhee became a well-known name in the criminal underworld of Glasgow. With a reputation for violence and connections to the city’s illicit drug trade, McPhee carved out a powerful position within the city’s criminal hierarchy. His activities, rooted in drugs and armed robberies, made him both feared and targeted in the murky world of organised crime.
Criminal Activities and Imprisonments
McPhee’s criminal record was extensive. In 1978, he was sentenced to five years for robbery, and in 1986, he received another five-year sentence for an armed raid. A significant drug deal in 1992 saw him sentenced to eight years after he was implicated in a £200,000 narcotics transaction. However, he avoided conviction in two murder cases: the prison killing of William “Worm” Toye in 1997 and the strangling of Chris McGrory in 1998. Both cases resulted in “not proven” verdicts in Scottish courts.
Gangland Tensions and Threats on His Life
McPhee’s dealings within the criminal underworld were well known, and his involvement in the drug trade—particularly with Irish paramilitary groups—further heightened tensions. It was rumoured that a £5,000 contract had been put on his life. McPhee also had alleged connections to dogfighting rings, with a police probe examining his potential role in attempting to establish Scotland as a centre for the brutal sport.
The Murder of Frank McPhee
On 10 May 2000, McPhee was fatally shot outside his home on Guthrie Street in Maryhill, Glasgow. The single shot from a .22 rifle, complete with a telescopic sight, struck him in the head in front of his young son. The calculated nature of the shooting suggested that a sniper, possibly lying in wait, had targeted him, though theories circulated about multiple gunmen.
Investigation and Theories
Police investigations pointed to various motives for McPhee’s murder, including his involvement in the drug trade and potential conflicts with rival gang families. Police also examined connections to former Irish terrorists whom he might have crossed in the drug world. Despite these theories, no one has ever been charged with McPhee’s murder, and his case remains unsolved to this day.
Legacy and Unsolved Questions
Frank McPhee’s murder remains a mystery in Scotland’s criminal history. The unsolved nature of his death highlights the violent and often dangerous lives led by Glasgow’s gangland figures. Who ordered his murder, and why was he targeted with such precision? The truth remains hidden, leaving behind unanswered questions in the dark history of Scotland’s underworld.
