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Three men have received prison sentences following a series of firebomb attacks connected to a gangland dispute. Marshall O’Hara, aged 21, Fraser Stewart, 22, and Aiden McLaughlin, 21, carried out attacks on homes and a carpet business associated with the Daniel crime family. Their actions were captured on various CCTV and doorbell camera footage, including a striking clip showing McLaughlin’s trainers catching fire as he jumped from the roof during one of the incidents.
At Glasgow High Court, Judge Lord Mulholland sentenced O’Hara and Stewart to seven-and-a-half years in jail, while McLaughlin was given three years. The judge described the offences as “sheer naked gangsterism, pure and simple” and warned that the events could have escalated into murder charges. He referenced the recent Union Street fire in Glasgow to highlight the dangers of such attacks and emphasized that society and legal authorities would not tolerate this kind of criminality.
The series of attacks began in the early hours of 7 April last year, with the first targeting a property on Ashgill Road in Glasgow’s Milton district. At the time, James Daniel, Margaret McIntyre, and two others were inside. Prosecutor John Keenan KC recounted that the occupants were awakened by loud noises and glass breaking but managed to escape through a back door as the house ignited. Investigation revealed petrol inside a bottle left outside, as well as a Molotov cocktail thrown through a window, causing significant fire damage to a bedroom and the front door. CCTV footage showed O’Hara and Stewart arriving at the property, with O’Hara pouring an accelerant on the door and Stewart lighting it.
Later that same night, another property in Meadow Court, Stepps, Lanarkshire, was targeted while residents, including Robert Daniel, slept. Both the house and a high-value BMW X5 parked outside were set ablaze. Evidence included dropped yellow lighter belonging to O’Hara and video of him igniting the vehicle after dousing it with fuel. Stewart also contributed by splashing accelerant around the doorway and driveway, resulting in a large explosion of flames. That night also saw the trio attack The Carpet Store Factory Outlet in Bishopbriggs, with petrol cans purchased and filled earlier captured on camera. McLaughlin was filmed climbing the roof to ignite it, and as the fire burst into flames, he had to jump off as his trainers caught fire. O’Hara recorded part of the incident on his phone.
A further incident occurred on 14 April at a residence on Colston Drive, Bishopbriggs, where Norman and Margaret Daniel were present. The couple was awakened by flames and quickly called emergency services, using a fire extinguisher to control the blaze. Footage showed O’Hara tipping petrol on the front door and walls, wearing the same jacket seen in prior attacks. Although he attempted to set the fire, a dropped lighter interrupted the act just before the flame started. Stewart was also involved, filming the scene before the men fled to Stewart’s home, carrying three jerry cans. It is understood that at least one of the men was compensated approximately £300 for their involvement, primarily to clear drug debts.
O’Hara and Stewart pleaded guilty to four counts of wilful fire-raising, while McLaughlin admitted to his role in the carpet store attack. McLaughlin’s lawyer, Paul Mullen, told the court his client was “genuinely remorseful” and had expressed regret to a social worker, stating: “I regret every bit of this.” Additionally, non-harassment orders were imposed on the defendants, forbidding them from approaching or contacting two victims targeted in the attacks
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