Kevin Shanley stabbed to death Brian Gough, 27, in the doorway of a shop in Glasgow’s Possilpark on May 18 2024.
16:27, 30 Jan 2026Updated 17:23, 30 Jan 2026
Brian Gough.(Image: Police Scotland)
A thug has been convicted of the broad daylight murder of a man in an apparent revenge attack.
Kevin Shanley stabbed to death Brian Gough, 27, in the doorway of a shop in Glasgow’s Possilpark on May 18 2024. The 37 year-old killer targeted Brian after the victim had punched his younger brother Kyle Shanley, 28, moments earlier.
Kevin now faces a life sentence after he was found guilty of murder today. The trial at the High Court in Glasgow largely focused on harrowing CCTV footage of the crime, which was played to jurors.
The brothers were initially captured standing in the area’s Saracen Street that sunny Saturday afternoon. One of them waved over to Brian’s girlfriend, who crossed the road and hugged each of the siblings.
Kevin Shanley, left, and brother Kyle(Image: Spindrift)
The victim – who was six-foot-six and weighed 20-stone – was also with her. The court heard there was “none of the hallmarks of hostility” between any of them initially.
It was not explained why, but Brian soon went on to punch Kyle Shanley. This was said to have taken him by “surprise”. Kyle then contacted his brother while Brian and his girlfriend walked off into the nearby Saracen Store.
In his closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Colin Edward said the siblings went on to leave a close in that street “clearly looking” for Brian. Kyle was initially described as “swiping” at the victim with a knife after he left the shop.
Kevin Shanley(Image: Police Scotland)
Brian pushed Kyle away as the man’s girlfriend also tried to step in. Brian went back into the doorway of the shop – Kevin Shanley had, by this time, took the knife from his brother and went after the victim. The CCTV then captured the killer “lunging” at him before running off.
Footage from inside the Saracen Store saw Brian initially slumped at the counter before collapsing on the floor, with his T-shirt covered in blood.
The scene on Saracen Street(Image: Daily Record)
He tragically never recovered having been struck in the heart. Brian passed away the next day in hospital. Advocate depute Mr Edward had urged jurors to convict both brothers of the killing.
He said Kevin was the one who had stabbed Brian, but that Kyle had acted “in concert” with his older sibling in that he had “participated in a plan to use serious violence” that day. Kyle was acquitted of the murder and instead found guilty of the heavily reduced charge of assaulting Brian by attempting to strike him with a knife.
Judge Douglas Brown continued Kevin Shanley’s remand as sentencing was adjourned for reports. He had only a couple of minor previous convictions for cannabis possession.
Floral tributes were placed at the scene in Glasgow (Image: Daily Record)
Kyle had also been in custody since being charged in 2024. He was bailed today/yesterday and will return to the dock with his brother in March.
After the killing, Brian was described by those who knew him as “popular” and “a nice big guy”. One message at the scene stated: “A life too short, a grieving too long”.