Paul Ferris, a notorious Glasgow gangland enforcer who later found success as an author, has died at the age of 62. He is believed to have passed away on Tuesday night at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow after a brief illness.
Ferris was known for his association with the city's criminal underworld. He stood trial in 1992 for the murder of crime boss Arthur Thompson Jr., son of Arthur Thompson Sr., who was shot dead in August 1991. The trial was notable for being one of the longest and most expensive in Scottish legal history, lasting 54 days and involving over 300 witnesses. The prosecution's case hinged on the testimony of Dennis Woodman, who claimed Ferris had confessed to the murder while they were both incarcerated. However, defense lawyers challenged Woodman's credibility and the overall integrity of the prosecution's case. After more than 24 hours of deliberation, a jury acquitted Ferris of all charges in 1992. No one has ever been convicted in connection with Arthur Thompson Jr.'s death.
Later, in 1998, Ferris was sentenced to seven years in prison for gun-running offenses.
Transitioning from his past, Ferris turned to writing. His first book, "The Ferris Conspiracy," published in 2001, chronicled his experiences in the underworld. The book was later adapted into the 2013 film "The Wee Man," starring Martin Compston as Ferris. He authored several other books in collaboration with writer Reg McKay.
The news of Ferris's death was shared on social media by photographer Brian Anderson, who had met Ferris for a newspaper assignment in 2002 and maintained a friendship for 25 years. Anderson described Ferris as a best-selling author and a former criminal, noting that his death would be a "shock to many" and recalling him as polite, funny, and kind.