{"id":230325,"date":"2025-07-01T21:36:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T21:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/230325\/"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:36:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T21:36:10","slug":"senior-officer-welcomes-gang-convictions-after-heinous-crimes-around-edinburgh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/230325\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior officer welcomes gang convictions after \u2018heinous\u2019 crimes around Edinburgh"},"content":{"rendered":"

A senior police officer has welcomed the convictions of a gang of six men involved in \u201cheinous\u201d offences in Edinburgh<\/a> and Midlothian, following a lengthy trial.<\/p>\n

Detective Superintendent Paul Grainger said he was \u201cvery pleased\u201d after the six were convicted on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Michael Heeps, Lee Ridgway, John Murray, Dale Bauld, Damien Mullen and Ryan McGovern were found guilty of a number of offences following a seven-week trial at Glasgow High Court<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These included attempted murder, wilful fire-raising and attempting to pervert the course of justice \u2013 linked to events which took place in 2022 and 2023.<\/p>\n

Some of these offences related to fire-raising attacks on the cars of prison officers.<\/p>\n

Read More:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking outside Fettes police station following the convictions, Mr Grainger said there had been a \u201csignificant\u201d investigation to bring the men to justice.<\/p>\n

He told the PA news agency: \u201cToday\u2019s convictions represent the culmination of a long and very complex, challenging inquiry that dealt with really, really serious crime on the streets of Edinburgh and Midlothian.<\/p>\n

\u201cFour charges of attempted murder and other charges for wilful fire-raising and attempting to pervert the course of justice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very pleased with the verdict today and it is a fantastic response to what was a significant inquiry.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said police moved quickly as soon as the incidents began, adding: \u201cIt did escalate very, very quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that prison officers were targeted certainly made it much more serious in our eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, public servants trying to do their best to keep the streets of Scotland safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticularly heinous offending and we\u2019re very, very committed to tackling that and bringing people to account for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The senior officer made clear that the men \u201cplanned and operated together as a team\u201d in carrying out the attacks.<\/p>\n

He said they were responsible for \u201cserious and organised crime\u201d but he said he could not give further information on exactly who it was attributed to.<\/p>\n

Police across Scotland are currently investigating a string of violent incidents related to a gang feud involving well-known underworld figures, affecting both the Edinburgh and Glasgow areas.<\/p>\n

The wide-ranging investigation into these incidents is known as Operation Portaledge and there have been 50 arrests so far.<\/p>\n

Mr Grainger said the men convicted on Tuesday played \u201cno active role\u201d in the current offending being dealt with under Operation Portaledge.<\/p>\n

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