Paul Ferris, a prominent figure in Glasgow’s underworld who later gained fame as an author, has died at the age of 62. Reports indicate he passed away on Tuesday night at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital following a brief illness.
Ferris first entered public consciousness as an enforcer for crime boss Arthur “Fat Boy” Thompson, a man with ties to London’s Kray family. His reputation extended well beyond Glasgow after he became the prime suspect in the 1991 shooting death of Thompson’s son, Arthur Thompson Jnr, outside their Provanmill home.
The subsequent trial in 1992 became the longest and most expensive criminal proceeding in Scottish legal history at that time. Spanning 54 days with over 300 witnesses, the case was estimated to have cost £4 million. Despite heavy reliance on testimony from Dennis Woodman, who alleged Ferris had confessed while incarcerated at Barlinnie Prison, the jury acquitted Ferris of murder and all other charges after more than 24 hours of deliberation.
No individual has ever been convicted for the killing of Arthur Thompson Jnr. During the chaos surrounding the case, two of Ferris’s associates, Joe “Bananas” Hanlon and Bobby Glover, were found shot dead in a car on the funeral cortege route the same day as the victim’s burial; their murders remain unsolved.
Although cleared of murder, Ferris was later convicted for gun-running and served a seven-year sentence, leaving prison in 2002. Following his release, he channeled his experiences into writing. His debut memoir, The Ferris Conspiracy, published in 2001, was adapted into the 2013 film The Wee Man. The movie featured Martin Compston as Ferris and John Hannah as his rival, Tam “The Licensee” McGraw.
Ferris subsequently co-authored two additional books, Vendetta and Villains, with crime writer Reg McKay. Photographer Brian Anderson, who first met Ferris in 2002, confirmed the news of his death on social media, describing the author as a “former notorious criminal” who was also polite, funny, and kind. Anderson noted he remained friends with Ferris for 25 years, calling the news a shock to many.
Donald Findlay KC, who represented Ferris during the high-profile murder trial, previously described the case as the most memorable of his career, citing its array of dramatic characters and complex legal challenges.
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