Barlanark Road

Hallhill Road, Glasgow. G 32 0HW. Demolished.

The Caravel. 1991.

This was Tam McGraw’s old pub the notorious Caravel. It is believed that a bomb was thrown into the bar one day. It is now demolished, a new housing estate now occupies the site.

In the NEWS…

In 1998, he was charged along with a number of others, including his brother-in-law, John Healy, after police seized cannabis worth 260,000 hidden on board a boys’ football team bus.

McGraw stood trial but walked on a not-proven verdict. Healy was not so lucky and was jailed for 10 years, prompting a feud which lasted until the day McGraw died.

One of McGraw’s most ardent critics has been Paul Ferris, perhaps the most infamous criminal character in Scotland since Thompson snr.

The Caravel.

A one-time heavy for Thompson, he stood trial for the murder of the Godfather’s son, Arthur jnr, known to everyone as “Fatboy”, who was shot dead in 1991.

The night before Arthur jnr’s funeral, two of Ferris’ pals, Joe “Bananas” Hanlon and Bobby Glover, were shot dead in an apparent revenge attack.

According to underworld sources, the victims’ bodies were personally mutilated by Thompson snr at The Caravel bar in Barlanark – owned and run by McGraw. Within hours of the desecrations taking place, the pub had mysteriously burned to the ground.

The Caravel was mysteriously burned to the ground

In 2011 there were plans to build a new pub in this Dry Area of Glasgow  ran in to oppositions from Co-operative housing, Churches and Schools in the area. But other residents in the area are determined to have a pub. Over 350 locals have signed a petition not to have a public house. However in 2019 there is no sign of a pub being built.

Do you remember this notorious bar? If so please leave a comment.

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