Taxi Driver Online

Mini cab firms quizzed as police probe gang links to gun death



DETECTIVES investigating the shooting of Martyn Barclay are interviewing employees from private hire car firms in the Capital.

It is understood officers are probing alleged links between some cab firms and organised crime as part of the inquiry into the killing of the 26-year-old who was shot in the head near his home in the Inch four weeks ago.

Detectives would not confirm today that they were speaking to car firms, only that officers were looking to question "a number of people" as part of the inquiry.

Rumours have been circulating that Mr Barclay was killed as part of a bitter feud between gangsters from the Inch/Gilmerton and Granton/Royston areas. Private hire firms have been caught up in the crossfire between the gangs, according to sources with knowledge of the conflict.

Asked about the police probe, a trade source said: "I've been told this is not about finding drivers and vehicles which were in the area at the time of the shooting.

"It's known that some firms in the city have connections with criminal elements. It's my understanding from speaking to people working in the trade that this, and the suggestion of a drugs connection in the killing of Martyn Barclay, is the reason that police are doing this."

While Mr Barclay has been described by neighbours as a "nice, quiet guy", others talk of an alleged link to a major drug dealer based in the Inch, who is believed to supply much of the Capital's cocaine trade.

Last year, the Inch gang boss was said to be considering buying into a private hire cab firm in Edinburgh, to help launder drug cash. He is thought to have had ambitions to become a figure like the former Glasgow gangster Paul Ferris, who sparked a police investigation over allegations he was looking at buying a city car firm.

Even firms with no link to crime appear to have been caught up in the turf war.

A private hire car was hit by a shotgun blast in Royston Mains Road on September 15 last year, and in October two men attempted to kidnap a minicab driver at knifepoint in Lochend before speeding off in his car. It is understood the stolen cab had been booked to take passengers from Lochend to Cumnor Crescent in The Inch.

A police spokesman said: "As part of any major investigation, police will look to question a number of people who may be able to provide information that can assist with our inquiries."

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If the council don,t start taking action to stop private hire illegally plying for hire in Dundee i can see this sort of thing happening.There is one of my colleagues awaiting trial for Taxi fraud,he got into a private hire in the yard across from fat sams to prove that they were picking up illegally.He refused to pay the driver and was arrested.No action was taken against the private hire driver who was proved to have picked my colleague up illegally.

The above is a whole different ball game, and better well left alone . . . .

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"