THREE members of a drugs gang which terrorised a community were yesterday jailed for life for murder, with the ringleader having to serve at least 20 years.
Robert O'Hara, 27, Colin McKay and Robert Murray, both 25, were found guilty last month of murdering Paul McDowall in Possil, Glasgow.
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.
Afourth accomplice, Brian Kelly, 30, was also found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to murder, and was given a 10-year jail sentence.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Dawson handed down mandatory life sentences to the three killers.
The judge told ringleader O'Hara, known as the Birdman, that he was one of the worst criminals he had ever encountered.
Jailing him for a minimum punishment period of 20 years, Lord Dawson told O'Hara, who was listed as a prisoner in Edinburgh: "There is little I can say to ref lect the revulsion that every decent citizen must feel about you.
"You literally terrorised a whole area of the city of Glasgow."
He went on: "You are undoubtedly a despicable criminal - one of the worst I have had the misfortune to come across."
McKay and Murray were found guilty alongside O'Hara of murdering Paul McDowall in Bardowie Street, Glasgow, on July 22 last year.
The six-week trial was told that the victim had been bludgeoned and stabbed to death.
For their part in the crime, McKay was sentenced to at least 14 years behind bars and Murray was ordered to be locked up for a minimum of 12 years.
Lord Dawson said the three, with Kelly, had all been involved in an "evil criminal conspiracy to murder".
"The purposes of that conspiracy were carried out and a young life has been lost, " the judge told the men.
Lord Dawson told McKay he was clearly one of O'Hara's lackeys.
The judge said: "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 another man, James Elder, was described by the judge as O'Hara's "right-hand man".
The proceedings were watched by a large group of people supporting the four accused.
Many of those in the public gallery burst into a spontaneous round of applause as the men were led away to the cells.
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