THREE members of a drugs gang that brought fear to a Glasgow community were jailed for life yesterday at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Robert O’Hara, 27, and Colin McKay and Robert Murray, both 25, were convicted last month of murdering Paul McDowall in Possil last July.

The three, led by O’Hara, were also convicted at the High Court in Dunfermline of conspiracy to murder, dealing in heroin and firearms offences. A fourth accomplice, Brian Kelly, 30, was convicted of conspiracy to murder, and jailed for ten years.

Lord Dawson jailed O’Hara, known as the Birdman, for a minimum of 20 years, saying that he was one of the worst criminals he had encountered. “There is little I can say to reflect the revulsion that every decent citizen must feel about you. You literally terrorised a whole area of the city of Glasgow,” he said. He jailed McKay for at least 14 years, saying that he was clearly one of O’Hara’s lackeys.

The judge added: “Whatever he wants you to do, you will do. You sold his drugs for him, you kept his guns for him, you even killed someone at his request as casually as if you went to buy a pint of milk. You are no better than a hired assassin.”

Murray, who was also found guilty of the attempted murder of James Elder, was jailed for a minimum of 12 years.

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