Latest news with #Kilbarchan
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Dubai-based gangster Ross McGill was a ‘promising athlete' coached by Tory MSP
McGill quit track sport after one appearance for his country when he was 17 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRUGS mob boss Ross McGill was a teen 100m ace who ran for Scotland, we can reveal. The hood, 31, who kicked off the country's bloody gangland turf war, was coached at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, by ex-Olympian Brian Whittle, 61, now a Tory MSP. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Mob boss Ross McGill was a teen 100m ace who ran for Scotland 3 The hood, 31, was coached at Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire by ex-Olympian Brian Whittle, now a Tory MSP Credit: Alamy 3 BRAZEN mobsters have torched the cars of rival gang members But we can reveal McGill quit track sport after one appearance for his country when he was 17 — and is now a feared hood known as 'Miami' who sparked a bloody underworld turf war. McGill, 31, of East Kilbride, changed tack to get involved in drugs deals and mayhem more than a decade after he ran for Renfrewshire athletics club Kilbarchan. He set a highly impressive personal best time for 100m of just over 11 seconds while being trained by the former Team GB ace Mr Whittle. The MSP for South Scotland since 2016 said of McGill: 'I remember him as a decent athlete in his mid-teens with potential. 'But he did not stay in the training group for long.' We can reveal an image of a fresh-faced McGill wearing a Scotland vest at a meet in Antrim, Northern Ireland. A source said: 'He came second in the 100m at the Celtic games on August 13, 2011. 'He only represented Kilbarchan AC for one year then disappeared. It was very odd because at the time he seemed like he was going to be a really successful athlete. 'But people who knew him remember he did seem a lot more interested in Rangers than track and field.' McGill, exposed by us as the gang war Mr Big, went on to lead the Union Bears Rangers ultras and was pictured with ex-Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard. The INSIDE story of Scotland's biggest gangster - Jamie 'The Iceman' Stevenson He is said to be behind a mob called Tamo Junto who have been waging war against caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, and the notorious Daniel crime family. Insiders say dealers paid McGill in fake cash for a £500,000 cocaine deal after seeing him as 'a nobody'. Tamo Junto has claimed responsibility for firebombings and machete attacks in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Cops have made 48 arrests so far. Mr Whittle won 4x400m relay gold at two European Championships and competed at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'My wife thinks I'm nuts': Dad battling blood cancer taking on huge cycle challenge
A dad of two battling blood cancer is set to cycle 250 miles across Scotland for charity. Robert Howat, 50, from Kilbarchan, was diagnosed in 2024 with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. Despite the diagnosis, he plans to help fund research by raising money and awareness for Blood Cancer UK. He will join two friends for a cycling challenge coast-to-coast from Stranraer to Eyemouth in June. Robert Howat (Image: Supplied) The ride will take place over two days. To donate to Robert's fundraising campaign for Blood Cancer UK, go to He said: "When I got the diagnosis, I thought, what can I do to show people you can still live fully and help others while you're at it? "I'm on watch and wait, so I go in for check-ups every few months, and I want to show people what you can do with a blood cancer." (Image: Supplied) He will be cheered on by his wife, daughters, and friends, even though his wife called the challenge "mad" and thought he was "nuts" for doing it. According to Robert, he was always fit and healthy and never smoked, so the blood cancer diagnosis came as a shock. He said: "It's been a shock for the family, but I'm still trying to process why it's happened. "I did everything right, I'm fit and healthy, I don't smoke, yet I've been dealt this hand." The former police officer, now working at Glasgow Airport, admitted that the diagnosis and subsequent treatment could impact his ability to train as vigorously as he used to. He said: "I have to be careful, CLL affects your immune system, so I need to avoid infection and balance exercise with recovery. "I can't train like I used to." Mairead Macleod, Scotland fundraising manager at Blood Cancer UK, said: "Having chronic leukaemia, a blood cancer, can be hard enough to navigate, and it's incredible Robert is still able to push himself to raise awareness and funds for Blood Cancer UK. "Blood cancer is the UK's fifth most common blood cancer. "It's because of the determination of people like Robert, we are able to fund more research into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of blood cancers. "He's pedalling us closer to the day where we beat blood cancer for good." Robert hopes to encourage others grappling with a cancer diagnosis to live fully, saying: "When I was well in the past I've run marathons, done tough mudders, and long bike rides but this is different. "This one means more. "I'm doing it show people you can still live with a cancer diagnosis."
