Three men admit firebomb attacks in gangland feud

Three more men have admitted their involvement in a series of firebomb attacks during a gangland feud being waged across Scotland's central belt.

Marshall O'Hara, 21, Fraser Stewart, 22, and Aiden McLaughlin, 21, targeted houses and a carpet firm linked to the Daniel crime family.

They were caught mostly due to damning CCTV and doorbell camera footage.

Some of the footage included McLaughlin's trainers catching fire as he leapt from the roof of one of the blaze sites.

The three men were remanded in custody at the High Court in Glasgow and will be sentenced in May.

Judge, Lord Mulholland - repeating comments he made last year involving others in the same feud - said the attacks were once again an example of "sheer naked gangsterism".

The men were arrested as part of Operation Portaledge - the police probe set up in response to the outbreak of gang violence across Scotland's central belt.

Prosecutor John Keenan KC said the attacks happened between 7 and 14 April last year.

There were wilful fireraisings at three residential properties belonging to individuals linked to an organised crime group. A commercial property was also targeted.

Keenan said it was believed the three men were acting under the direction of senior members of a crime group.

The first attack took place in the early hours at a property in Ashgill Road in Glasgow's Milton area.

James Daniel, Margaret McIntyre and two others were inside at the time.

O'Hara and Stewart had earlier been captured on footage at Stewart's home in Glasgow's Barlanark with a length of hosepipe, a black jerry can and a rucksack.

Keenan told the court the occupants of the targeted house escaped out of a back door as the fire took hold.

Petrol was found on both the letterbox and burnt material and a petrol bomb had been thrown through a window.

There was severe fire damage to a bedroom and the front door.

Keenan said O'Hara and Stewart were caught on CCTV going to the house.

Doorbell footage showed O'Hara, from Glasgow, pour liquid on the door and Stewart passing him a lighter that is used to ignite the accelerant.

In the early hours of the same morning, a house in Meadow Court, Stepps, North Lanarkshire, was targeted as people inside slept.

Robert Daniel and others were there at the time.

A blaze was started at the property and a £70,000 BMW X5 in the driveway was burnt-out after being torched.

O'Hara dropped a yellow lighter at the scene and he was seen on CCTV dousing the 4x4 in liquid then setting it alight.

Stewart joined him, splashing accelerant on the door and the driveway, resulting in an "explosion of flames".

All three men were also involved in the firebombing of The Carpet Store factory outlet in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, late on 7 April.

Stewart was earlier caught on camera buying two green jerry cans at a garage which were filled with petrol.

The business was said to have been "extensively damaged" as a result of the fire.

Footage captured O'Hara and Stewart emptying the cans as McLaughlin climbed onto the roof. He then crouched down and set fire to the roof, causing a large explosion.

"He was forced to jump as the flames take hold and his footwear catches fire," Keenan said.

O'Hara - who was wearing a designer jacket with "Moncler" emblazoned on the hood - appeared to be recording their actions on his phone.

The final attack was on 14 April at a property in Colston Drive, Bishopbriggs.

Norman and Margaret Daniel were said to be sleeping in the property at the time. The blaze was quelled with a fire extinguisher.

Ring doorbell footage again caught O'Hara wearing the same Moncler puffer jacket.

He tipped accelerant onto the front door and the walls from a petrol can. Stewart filmed the incident.

It is believed at least one of the men was paid £300 for his involvement.

O'Hara and Stewart pled guilty to four charges of wilful fireraising. McLaughlin admitted to the same crime for his part in the Carpet Store blaze.

Attempted murder allegations were deleted from each charge.

O'Hara and Stewart had also faced accusations of being involved in fire attacks at another house Bishopbriggs - where Annette Daniel had been - as well as at a beauty salon in Bridgeton, Glasgow. Not guilty pleas were accepted.

Lord Mulholland told the men: "Let there be no misapprehension - these are very serious matters.

"You will all receive lengthy sentences. I have dealt with a number of these cases now - this is disgraceful conduct."

He added: "You are lucky that you are not sitting in the dock facing charges of murder. You set fire to homes, a business - it is sheer naked gangsterism."