Firebombers locked up for 18 years for attacks linked to crime family

Three men have been locked up for a total of 18 years after a series of firebomb attacks during a gangland feud in the West of Scotland.

Marshall O'Hara, 21, Fraser Stewart, 22, and Aiden McLaughlin, 21, targeted houses and a carpet firm linked to the Daniel crime family.

The trio were mainly snared due to damning CCTV and doorbell camera footage.

This included capturing McLaughlin's trainers catching fire as he leapt from the roof of one of the blaze sites.

The three were back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow today having earlier admitted their involvement.

O’Hara and Stewart were both sentenced to seven and a half years.

McLaughlin was locked up for three years.

Lord Mulholland: “This case is another episode in an ongoing feud between rival organised crime groups.

“You were all acting under direction of senior members of a crime group.

“You could have quite easily been facing a murder charge if matters had taken a different course.

“You can see the danger of fires from recent events in Glasgow (Union Street blaze)

“The public will not accept this gangsterism, neither will law enforcement or the courts.

“It was sheer naked gangsterism - pure and simple.”

Two of the trio smiled to others in the public benches as they were taken back to the cells.

They were arrested as part of Operation Portaledge - the police probe set up in response to the outbreak of gang violence across Scotland's central belt from Glasgow to Edinburgh.

Describing thees crimes, prosecutor John Keenan KC said: "Between April 7 and 14 2025, wilful fire-raisings occurred at three residential properties belonging to individuals linked to an organised crime group.

"A commercial property was also targeted.

"It is understood by the Crown that the three in the present case were acting under the direction of senior members of a crime group."

The first attack took place in the early hours at a property in Ashgill Road in the city's Milton.

The indictment states James Daniel, Margaret McIntyre and two others were inside at the time.

O'Hara and Stewart had earlier been captured on footage at the latter's home in Glasgow's Barlanark with a length of hosepipe, a black jerry can and a rucksack.

Mr Keenan said the occupants of the targeted house were awoken by a bang and glass smashing.

They escaped out a back door as the fire took hold. A bottle filled with petrol was discovered outside.

Mr Keenan: "The initial assessment was that material had been pushed through the letterbox and set alight.

"Petrol was detected on both the letterbox and burnt material."

It was then also found a Molotov cocktail had been hurled through a window.

There was severe fire-damage to a bedroom and the front door.

Mr Keenan said a CCTV trawl captured O'Hara and Stewart getting out a car and going to the house that night.

He added: "Doorbell footage showed O'Hara pour liquid on the door and he asked: 'Where is the light?'.

"Stewart then passed a lighter which is used to ignite the accelerant. The door is engulfed in flames."

In the early hours of the same morning, a house in Meadow Court in Stepps, Lanarkshire was then targeted as those inside slept.

Court papers state Robert Daniel and others were there at the time.

A blaze was started at the property and a £70,000 BMW X5 in the driveway was also wrecked having been torched.

It emerged bungling O'Hara, of Glasgow, dropped a yellow lighter at the scene.

CCTV this time had captured O'Hara getting out a Volkswagen Golf, douse the 4x4 in liquid before setting it alight.

Stewart joined him splashing accelerant on the door and the driveway.

After being sparked, Mr Keenan said it resulted in an "explosion of flames".

Both then fled back to Stewart's home in the east-end.

All three were then involved in the firebombing of The Carpet Store Factory Outlet in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire late on April 7 into the early hours.

Stewart was initially caught on camera earlier buying two green jerry cans at a garage.

These were then filled with petrol and McLaughlin, of the city's Easterhouse, was clocked going in to pay for the fuel.

The business was said to have been "extensively damaged" as a result of the blaze.

Footage captured O'Hara and Stewart emptying the cans as McLaughlin climbed onto the roof.

Mr Keenan: "McLaughlin then crouched down and set fire to the roof causing a large explosion.

"He was forced to jump as the flames take hold and his footwear catches fire."

O'Hara - who had been wearing a designer jacket with "Moncler" emblazoned on the hood - appeared to be recording on his phone what they had done before all raced off in a car.

The final attack was on April 14 at a property in Colston Drive, also Bishopbriggs.

Norman and Margaret Daniel were said to be there at the time.

They were awoken by seeing flames and immediately dialled 999. A fire extinguisher luckily quelled the blaze.

Ring doorbell footage again caught O'Hara wearing the same Moncler puffer jacket.

He tipped accelerant onto the front door and the walls from a petrol can.

Mr Keenan: "He attempted to ignite it, but dropped the lighter. The footage cuts off just before the fire is started."

Stewart was also involved - he is the one this time filming on his phone.

They then escaped back to Stewart's home. They were seen carrying three jerry cans.

The trio were arrested between April 23 and May 17during the massive Portaledge probe.

It is believed at least one of them was paid a relatively small sum of just £300 for getting involved.

O'Hara and Stewart pled guilty to four charges of wilful fire-raising.

McLaughlin admitted to the same crime for his part in the Carpet Store blaze.

O'Hara and Stewart had also faced accusations of being involved in fire attacks at another house Bishopbriggs - where Annette Daniel had been - as well as at a beauty salon in Bridgeton, Glasgow. Not guilty pleas were accepted.

Lawyers for the trio today said they had got involved effectively to repay drug debts.

McLaughlin’s solicitor advocate Paul Mullen stated: “He told the social worker (compiling background report) that: ‘I regret every bit of this’. I submit his remorse is genuine.

“This has had a chastening effect on him.”

Lord Mulholland also imposed non-harassment orders banning the trio from approaching or contacting two of those hit by the fire attacks.

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