A new BBC documentary* has revisited the murders of six people caught up in a turf war of rival Glasgow ice cream van operators, who allegedly used the vehicles for criminal activity.
In April 1984, arsonists set fire to the home of one the drivers, Andrew Doyle, supposedly because he had resisted attempts to carry drugs on his route.
Six people died, some that very night, others over the next few days, one later in hospital. Victims included an 18-month baby.
For a city whose reputation had for some time been one of gangland violence, often in deprived suburban areas, and which had a high murder rate, this was a particular low.
The pressure to solve the crime was significant.
Two men, Thomas "TC" Campbell, and Joe Steele were convicted after a trial in which they were found guilty by unanimous jury verdict.
Campbell was a known hard man not afraid to use violence and intimidation, Steele apparently an associate.
There had been little forensic evidence: a map found at home of Campbell with the victims' house marked and a statement he was supposed to have said that it was only meant to warn off the driver.
The main thrust of the prosecution's case was a confession where the two guilty men had been overheard planning the "frightener". Overheard by a man, William Love, under threat of prison.
Both protested their innocence, and Steele made multiple escapes from custody: at one point gluing himself to the gates of Buckingham Palace.
An initial appeal was unsuccessful. Having been granted bail, they were returned to gaol.
With the advent of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commision the case was referred back for appeal.
This time the statement supposedly made by Campbell at the time of their detention was gone over again. Four police officers had written separately, and possibly some time after the event what had been said. Each officer's recollection was almost exactly the same.
They were freed.
Essentially, no-one has been found guilty of the murders. Another Glasgow gangster was suggested as the culprit, or at least the man who gave the orders. Other people still are convinced Campbell at least was behind it.
* - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...ice-cream-wars
In April 1984, arsonists set fire to the home of one the drivers, Andrew Doyle, supposedly because he had resisted attempts to carry drugs on his route.
Six people died, some that very night, others over the next few days, one later in hospital. Victims included an 18-month baby.
For a city whose reputation had for some time been one of gangland violence, often in deprived suburban areas, and which had a high murder rate, this was a particular low.
The pressure to solve the crime was significant.
Two men, Thomas "TC" Campbell, and Joe Steele were convicted after a trial in which they were found guilty by unanimous jury verdict.
Campbell was a known hard man not afraid to use violence and intimidation, Steele apparently an associate.
There had been little forensic evidence: a map found at home of Campbell with the victims' house marked and a statement he was supposed to have said that it was only meant to warn off the driver.
The main thrust of the prosecution's case was a confession where the two guilty men had been overheard planning the "frightener". Overheard by a man, William Love, under threat of prison.
Both protested their innocence, and Steele made multiple escapes from custody: at one point gluing himself to the gates of Buckingham Palace.
An initial appeal was unsuccessful. Having been granted bail, they were returned to gaol.
With the advent of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commision the case was referred back for appeal.
This time the statement supposedly made by Campbell at the time of their detention was gone over again. Four police officers had written separately, and possibly some time after the event what had been said. Each officer's recollection was almost exactly the same.
They were freed.
Essentially, no-one has been found guilty of the murders. Another Glasgow gangster was suggested as the culprit, or at least the man who gave the orders. Other people still are convinced Campbell at least was behind it.
* - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...ice-cream-wars
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