Man charged over gang feud taking arrest total to 55
Police said another another 26-year-old man was charged in connection with two vehicle fires in Port Seton on Sunday, 18 May.
Rivalry and violence
The arrests were made as part of Police Scotland's Operation Portaledge which was launched in response to a series of violent incidents since March.A Scottish man currently based in Dubai is alleged to have started the feud by targeting a crime group led by convicted cocaine dealer Mark Richardson who is currently in jail.The attacks later spread to the west of Scotland where there has been rivalry and violence between the Daniel and the Lyons families dating back more than 20 years.Several people with links to the Daniel family are said to have been targeted in the new wave of attacks.On 31 May, two prominent figures in the Lyons crime group, Eddie Lyons jnr and Ross Monaghan, were shot dead at a bar in Spain.Police Scotland has said there is no evidence to suggest that shooting was planned from Scotland.
How the feud developed
A series of attacks began on 2 March when a car was set on fire in Edinburgh's Parrotshot areaA beauty salon in Leith and a garage in Portobello were also targeted over a 10-day periodLater, shots were reported as being fired at two properties in Niddrie and Pilton in separate incidentsFurther firebomb attacks were reported on another house in Niddrie at the start of April, just as the first property in Glasgow was targeted in the Robroyston areaA carpet business in Bishopbriggs and another commercial premises in Kirkintilloch were also hit, alongside homes in Glasgow and Stepps.In April, a 72-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy were assaulted at a house in Egilsay Crescent in Milton, GlasgowTwo more properties in Bishopbriggs were set alightTwo men were taken to hospital following a serious assault at a garage in East Kilbride on 19 MayA 54-year-old man needed hospital treatment after he was attacked by a group of men at a house at Pitcairn Grove, Edinburgh - the third time an incident was reported at this propertyA large house in the Bridge of Weir was set alight on 2 JunePolice recover firearm believed to be linked to violence from Roseburn Path in Edinburgh on 11 JuneRead the full timeline here.
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Furthermore, there was failure to inspect the manhole at the end of the working day to see if it was fully closed with no access for children. Another cause of death was stated to be Shea climbing into the manhole and his intention of climbing down the ladder. The sheriff claimed another cause was the removal of the heavy bag of material from the manhole before the transfer to RJ McLeod. Sheriff Reid further stated that a contributory factor were defects in the system of work. The probe was told that there was no system for RJ McLeod employees to record, monitor, document or report incidents of damage to the construction site and its parameter fencing. The sheriff further cited the site's proximity to a children's play park to the construction site as another relevant factor. Furthermore, the Covid-19 lockdown which resulted in school closures also contributed. Sheriff Reid made eight recommendations at his determination. 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Another recommendation was for contractors to highlight the risks in terms of children's play parks. This includes risks of damage to fencing near the play parks as well as the unauthorised access from children to the sites. The sheriff has stated that contractors should consider taking enhanced precautionary measures due to the increased risks. Sheriff Reid lastly recommended that Glasgow City Council and other local authorities should review their procedures when it comes to play parks located near a construction site. This includes a risk assessment to see if there are any dangers of having a play park in the vicinity of a construction site. The council have been asked to determine if the risks can be controlled and if the park should remain open during the period of construction. This also includes temporarily dismantling or relocating a play park. Sheriff Reid said: 'I wish to acknowledge the particular courage and kindness of Mr Graeme Paterson, Mr Jamie Adams, and Constables Bryan Courtney, Holly McConnachie and Nigel McDonald, who, being among the first adults at the scene of the accident, tried so valiantly to save Shea's life. 'Lastly, may I express my sincere condolences to Shea's mother, Joanne Ferguson, and to his step-father and family, for their loss. 'Some small solace may perhaps be drawn from the outcome of this Inquiry, and the protections from which other children may hopefully benefit.'
