Three men guilty of campaign of murder and violence across west of Scotland

Three men have been convicted of a campaign of murder and violence across the west of Scotland.

Barry Harvey, Thomas Guthrie and Darren Owen were found guilty on Tuesday following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow that lasted more than three months.

Harvey, 35, was convicted of the murder of gym boss Gary More, 32, who was fatally shot on the doorstep of his home in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, on 6 September 2018.

Guthrie, 28, previously admitted being the getaway driver and was handed a life sentence with at least 21 years and seven months behind bars in August 2021.

Co-accused Neil Anderson was jailed for at least 21 years and nine months for his part in the deadly attack.

In this latest trial, Guthrie was found guilty of the attempted murder of a 63-year-old man in Glasgow's Carlton Place, near the city's sheriff court, on 19 July 2018.

Harvey, Guthrie and Owen, 23, were also convicted of attempting to murder a 37-year-old man outside a veterinary practice in Cathkin, South Lanarkshire, on 3 December 2018.

Two months later, Owen went on to murder Rafal Lyko.

Mr Lyko, 36, was shot in the head in Greenhall Park in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire. His body was recovered from a burnt-out car on 11 February 2019.

'Absolutely senseless'

Detective Superintendent Andrew Patrick said the investigating teams were able to find a "pattern of behaviour" which ultimately led to the convictions.

He added: "The violence involved in each of these cases, which resulted in the death of two men, is absolutely senseless.

"Although these were all targeted attacks, these individuals showed no regard for the communities and families affected.

"I believe these convictions show those intent on committing crime that no matter how much preparation you make, how many steps you take to frustrate an investigation, or how long it has been since the crime has been committed, that we will not give up."

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Mr More's family praised the efforts of all those involved in securing the convictions and for the professional support offered since the murder.

His father Lindsay More and his wife Margaret said: "Gary is missed every day. These people have robbed him and us of our future, blowing our family apart. Life will never be the same again.

"Nothing will bring Gary back, or mend the devastation to the family, but we take comfort now that justice has been served."

'We will also suffer from their actions for the rest of our lives'

Mr More's mother and sister, Angela and Lynsey, said he was a "much-loved" father to two young children.

They added: "He will be remembered by us every day - as a gentle giant with the best laugh.

"He loved the gym, loved listening to his favourite songs on repeat, but most importantly loved his family, and was loved in return by them.

"Those responsible for his death will now face the consequences of their actions. But what they don't realise, or care about, is that we will also suffer from their actions for the rest of our lives too."