Write about this!
“You know, I’m getting too old for this kind of life, the drug dealing and the stabbings, the slashings, the blindings and the knee-cappings; and I’m sick of getting mixed up with international gangsters and hit contracts, murders, ice-cream wars, securi-wars, taxi-wars, yardies and Essex-boy torturers, corrupt politics, crack-head hit men, knife fights, terrorists… and I don’t want to go back to jail.”
“Sure, I can understand that, Paul. But, I mean, what else would you do? Sell insurance, maybe?”
“No. I’ve got it all worked out. I’m going to become a writer.”
“Hmm. A writer, eh. That sounds pretty cool. But what are you going to write about?”
“Oh, you know, the drug dealing and the stabbings, the slashings, the blinding and the knee-cappings, the international gangsters and hit contracts, murders, ice-cream wars, securi-wars, taxi-wars, guns, yardies and Essex-boy torturers…”
At 16, Paul Ferris was a runner for Glasgow’s infamous Arthur Thompson firm, building a reputation for himself as a fearless thief and a ruthless enforcer. He had a penchant for violence and a talent for emerging relatively unscathed.
In the 1980s, as Glasgow’s heroin market flourished, Ferris built his own firm and used legitimate business interests as a front for his narcotics operation. He was finally convicted of firearms offences in 1998.
He is now, three years after his release from prison, a best selling author, with his first book, The Ferris Conspiracy, about to become a major feature film starring Robert Carlisle in the title role.
Earlier this year he appeared at a literary event staged in Edinburgh as part of the UNESCO Edinburgh World City of Literature festival.
Just under a year ago there were underworld whispers that he was making a move on the Scottish Capital’s taxi scene.
Tory group leader Ian Whyte said: “I would hope that the council is satisfied that he is no longer involved in any criminal activities and really has gone clean.”
Fugedaboutid!
Just ask Tam “the Licencee” McGraw, or Wullie “Stripes” Mckinnon, or…
Filed under: Crime
Am only 15 years old but a read a lot about crime a kno when there is a gd gangster paul ferris is the man hes like gold dust to me Paul ferris is the best out them all the rest are jst grasses and carboard gangsters ferris is the main man to me
Paul ferris a wid like to find oot aboot his lifestyle ?????????
ma addy anyone whos got information aboot glasgow gangsters heres ma addy stephen-mad@hotmail.co.uk
I cannot help but notice a touch of the old green-eyed God in “Mr Write about this” comments regarding Paul Ferris. Another out of work journalist/failed writer with a large chip on his shoulder most likely. Never mind you have a couple of paragraphs on-line now “Mr Write about this”…..not exactly a best seller, still it’s a start…..I suppose. Bilko
Oh dear, I’m afraid my friend Bilko has a retarded sense of irony.
I can spot a fake from 100 mile away retarded sense of irony or not. Bilko
A “fake” what?
Seems to me you’ve got too much time on your hands and not enough meat on your shoulders to bear the weight of all those “chips” you’re obviously carrying around.
The truth is, my friend, that I really have no axe to grind. Mr Ferris is not important to me; I’ve known — and written about — more interesting villains.
It should be noted, however, that, far from being overly judgemental or hostile, I actually included a link to his book’s web-site.
Look, more months ago than I can recall I wrote a few throw-away lines about a third-rate gangster trying to cash in on his dubious notoriety (and, may I say, good luck to him). Suddenly, I seem to have upset some people.
Well, tough shit.
With respect, I don’t think you could spot a “fake” anything if it had its finger up your ass.
I visited your bog, sorry blog, and expressed an opinion. I have no axe to grind with either you or Paul Ferris. I just think taking cheap shots at someone who has tried to turn his life around is the easy way to go for a word-smith like yourself.
By the tone of your reply it would seem it is you who has too much time on your hands my friend, either that or you take yourself far too seriously. You couldn’t upset me on your best day, that is a fact.
You have a nice writing style and seem to be an educated individual, have you had a book published yourself Mr Galloway? If not i can see why you are so obviously miffed that Mr Ferris has. No shame in being disgruntled, if it fires you to achieving better things.
Could you enlighten the rest of us at to just what a “ruthless informer” does? I have seen a lot in print regarding Paul Ferris, but i have yet to see him labelled as an informer of any kind, let alone a ‘ruthless’ one. Bilko
Thanks to Bilko for for pointing out the what I can only imagine is a typing error.
As a rule I proof-read thoroughly. Obviously not thoroughly enough on this occasion.
Paul Ferris has to my knowledge never been an informer and the piece should have read: “ruthless enforcer’”.
I apologise for the error.
Have subsequently edited out the error but the apology remains.
[...] My attention has recently been drawn to a typo in a piece I post back in June about former underworld figure and author Paul Ferris. [...]
mr galloway.it seems to me that your a very bitter and twisted person.if a person wonts to write a book and expose police corruption and police informers thats up to him.i notice you dont mention either of the above so your blog wont be of any help to the people in scotland living amoungst paid informers and corrupt police.i can imagine you as a very bored individual sitting at the window peeping out your curtain and shouting at kids playing.oh yes hes got a new book out soon that should be a xmas best seller just like hes last one.
As I say in my “about” page, Linda, I welcome intelligent comments and I think your comment fits into that category (it would help, of course, if you were able to express your [intelligent] thoughts in language that one didn’t have to struggle to read).
However, let’s not be picky, let’s just deal with your points.
A) Yes it’s a fact that I didn’t mention police corruption “above”. I didn’t know it was compulsory. If you care to read my blog and follow links to other stuff I’ve written you’ll find out that I know a great deal more about the subject than I suspect you do.
B) I no longer live in Scotland therefore I’m not particularly interested in its low-life. There are more corrupt cops in America, which was my home for many years. Nottingham, where I live now, has more gangsters, informers and ponces per square foot than crooked paving stones, although they stick to the poorer parts of town.
C) Where I live kids don’t play in the street, they play in their back gardens.
D) I haven’t experienced boredom since I gave up Charlie and weed about 10 years ago and my latest book, which I hope to God will never be a “Xmas best seller” will be out late next year.
Regards.
A couple of weeks back I disabled comments to this post because it was getting a little heated.
It’s not that I mind controversy; it’s just that some of the comments were a bit less than intelligent. In fact I had to delete a couple because they were completely unintelligible.
However, since this small piece is still rating highly in my stats I’ve decided to re-enable comments.
So, do your worst. But please, keep it real and remember: the better you write the closer we come to understanding one another.
Missing you already.
Well I’ve just finished reading this page and I am highly delighted, honestly! People wonder why real criminals and psychopaths can do what they do, when you’ve only got to read the bile that some of these comments have brought, thank God there are no knives and addresses or group sessions, or they’re be blood aplenty. Having been brought up in the east end of Glasgow and having left 21 years ago I am naturally interested to see if any of my alumni have made it big (or bigger than a cell in the Bar L). So if galloway chooses to write in partnership with psycho neds to get a story across, I say good on him. Rather a ghost author with a sense of irony that the ned wouldn’t spot if it was tied to shotgun up his arse than read a thug that actually think he can write and write 250 pages of self aggrandising, jail dodging, self pitying so called diamond geezer, “good boy turned bad” crap. I was a good boy, I was bullied, my dad was one of Easterhouse’s hardmen of the 50’s & 60’s but I chose to get out, to make a better life, so bollocks to that school of hard knocks, I had no choice whining.
So guys take it with a pinch of salt or whatever calms you down. What facts there are might be based on real life but in the pages of a book, it’s only pretend.
Many thanks, Old Kirk House. You’ve restored my faith in Scottish intelligence.
This is very nice and informative post. I have bookmarked your site in order to find out your post in the future.
You dissapoint me. I’d held you in high regard until recently, but now? How can you speak to people in such an arrogant fashion? How dare you criticise anyone’s voice - their spelling is, quite frankly, none of your business/ You insignificant, innefective, silly little man. Go away and source some lessons in the reduction of pomposity. I fear, little man, that you have ‘forgotten yer auld arse’.
After reading with initial interest I sadly find your whole idea of crime and Paul Ferris as nothing more than complete pash. Most is hear say the rest is fear. Having known many from the Glasgow area within a central network you soon know what is who and , Paul never made it! He got caught !! So anyway carry on! The book was ok but a little selfindulgent. The film was never going to happen, the taxi scene as you call it was always there. He learned the hard way that not to be seen or heard is the only way to survive. The story continues.