Full Breakdown
Paul Ferris’s Funeral Marks the End of a Notorious Glasgow Crime Figure
By Drooid · · How we work
The Final Service
On October 19, a funeral service for former Glasgow gangland enforcer Paul Ferris was held at Daldowie Crematorium on the city’s outskirts. A piper led the cortege into the crematorium, and songs such as “I Won’t Back Down” and “Brothers in Arms” were played during the ceremony. The service was attended by family members, friends, and an unspecified “large turn-out” of mourners.
Background and Criminal History
Paul Ferris (aged 62) rose to prominence as an enforcer for crime boss Arthur Thompson Sr. In 1992 he was acquitted of the murder of Thompson’s son, Arthur Thompson Jr., in what was then Scotland’s longest criminal trial. He later received a seven-year prison sentence in 1998 for gun-running after a conviction at London’s Old Bailey. While incarcerated, Ferris authored *The Ferris Conspiracy* (2001), which was adapted into the 2013 film *The Wee Man* starring Martin Compston. After his 2002 release, Ferris claimed to have left criminal activity behind and pursued legitimate business interests in security and construction, as well as publishing additional books about his past.
Health Decline and Death
Ferris died earlier this month at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after a short illness.
Rivalry and Shared Crematorium
Ferris’s funeral took place at the same crematorium where rival gangland figure Tam McGraw was cremated in August 2007. McGraw’s funeral attracted approximately 1,000 mourners, according to contemporary reports. The two men had been bitter rivals since the early 1990s, with Ferris repeatedly implicating McGraw in the murders of his friends Joe Hanlon and Bobby Glover. Despite speculation that Ferris might attend McGraw’s funeral, he did not appear.
Official Remarks and Charity Appeal
A family friend told reporters that a “large turn-out is expected” for Ferris’s funeral and that, despite his notoriety, he was “loved by his family.” The same source added that no trouble was anticipated, though observers noted the potential interest in who would attend. Relatives also issued a statement encouraging attendees to make a “gesture of kindness” by supporting the See The Invisibles charity, which assists vulnerable individuals.
Data and Statistics
- Age at death: 62.
- Cause of death: multiple organ failure and decompensated alcoholic liver disease (medical document).
- Approximate attendance at Tam McGraw’s 2007 funeral: 1,000 mourners.
- Number of books authored by Ferris after release: five, including *The Ferris Conspiracy*, *Vendetta*, and *Villains*.
Timeline
- 1992 – Acquitted of Arthur Thompson Jr.’s murder after Scotland’s longest trial at the time.
- 1998 – Convicted of gun-running in London; sentenced to ten years, later reduced to seven.
- 2001 – Publication of *The Ferris Conspiracy* while incarcerated.
- 2002 – Released from prison and asserted a break from criminal activity.
- Early 2000s – Ongoing rivalry with Tam McGraw, including mutual accusations of violent incidents.
- Earlier this month – Death at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
- October 19 – Funeral held at Daldowie Crematorium.
The service concluded a life that spanned violent gangland activity, high-profile legal battles, and a later public persona as an author and media subject. Ferris’s death and funeral close a chapter in Glasgow’s criminal history while highlighting the lingering public fascination with the city’s underworld figures.