Violent crime in Glasgow has once again captured headlines, with two separate incidents prompting concern and reflection on the city’s ongoing struggles with both organized and spontaneous violence. In the space of just over a year, Glasgow’s courts have seen two men charged with attempted murder in unrelated but equally harrowing cases—one unfolding amid the shadowy world of organized crime, the other erupting from an everyday dispute between neighbors.
On Monday, October 13, 2025, a 51-year-old pedestrian was rushed to hospital after allegedly being struck by a vehicle on Dalsetter Avenue in Drumchapel, a district long associated with the notorious Daniel crime clan. According to Daily Record reporting, the incident occurred near the home of a member of this infamous family, adding a layer of intrigue and fear to an already alarming event. Police moved quickly, and by October 16, Mark Philip Hughes, 49, had appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court charged with attempted murder, assault to injury and to the danger of life, and failing to stop and report an accident. Hughes made no plea, was committed for further examination, and was remanded in custody, with another court appearance expected within eight days.
The aftermath of the hit-and-run was anything but ordinary. The scene unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing tension and violence linked to Glasgow’s underworld. Just days earlier, a separate attack had taken place nearby, further unsettling the Drumchapel community. The house of Kelly Bo Green—widow of slain gangster Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll and daughter of the late crime lord Jamie Daniel—was raided by police on Drumchapel Road. Officers in forensic suits combed the property and removed two dogs, as the street remained cordoned off for days while investigators scoured for clues. It was a chilling reminder that, despite the passage of time, the specter of gangland feuds continues to haunt the city’s neighborhoods.
Kelly Bo Green herself is no stranger to the dangers of her family’s legacy. In May 2025, her home was targeted by firebomb attackers as part of what sources described as a gangland turf war—while her and Carroll’s youngest son was inside. An underworld source told Daily Record, “Gerbil’s boy was in the house when this happened. The Daniel family are priority targets in the gang war and this particular attack will have made a lot of people smile all across Scotland. Gerbil was a bully and a thief and made so many enemies so a lot of people will be happy to see this happen. Kelly isn’t well liked either and has a horrible attitude, like the rest of them.” The quote, while harsh, underscores the deep animosities and ongoing cycles of retribution that have defined Glasgow’s criminal landscape for decades.
While the Drumchapel incident appears to be embedded in the city’s organized crime context, another case—this one rooted in personal animosity—has also gripped Glasgow’s attention. On May 13, 2024, a seemingly mundane dispute over a parking space escalated into violence in the Carntyne area. Stephen McAulay, a 35-year-old bus driver, stabbed his neighbor James Duncan, a crane operator, outside Duncan’s home. According to Glasgow Live, the altercation began with an argument about a letter placed on McAulay’s car. McAulay believed the note had been left by Duncan or his wife, but Duncan insisted it was from the city council, requesting vehicles be moved for roadwork.
The confrontation quickly spiraled. CCTV footage captured the two men struggling, and their argument continued via text message, centering on parking grievances. More than an hour after the initial quarrel, McAulay arrived at Duncan’s home armed with a knife tucked into his trousers. As Duncan stepped outside, a woman at the scene was heard to shout, “Go Stephen,” before McAulay revealed the weapon. Prosecutor Alexandria Kirk explained in court, “McAulay stabbed Mr Duncan multiple times to the head, body and face.” The attack was brutal and left Duncan with life-altering injuries.
First responders found Duncan bleeding profusely and slipping in and out of consciousness. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered a string of serious wounds: multiple cuts to his face, shoulder, and left flank, significant blood loss, a suspected injury to his left colon, abdominal trauma, chest wall and nasal wounds, and a partially transected rib. He also suffered a collapsed lung, which required immediate drainage in surgery, as well as a wound to his diaphragm and colon. Most devastatingly, a stab wound to his eye pierced the cornea, resulting in vision so poor that he can now only distinguish light from dark. As the prosecutor told the court, “The doctor’s view is the injuries sustained were life threatening without treatment and will result in permanent scarring. Mr Duncan will have ongoing issues requiring further specialist input.”
Since the violent encounter, Duncan has struggled with low mood and anxiety and has not returned to work. The psychological scars, it seems, may be as lasting as the physical ones. McAulay, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to attempted murder at the High Court in Glasgow and was remanded into custody by Judge Lord Young. His sentencing has been deferred pending background reports, with a final decision expected next month at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Both cases have reignited debate about the persistence of violence in Glasgow, whether rooted in the city’s infamous gangland culture or flaring up in the heat of personal disputes. The Drumchapel hit-and-run, occurring so close to the home of a Daniel clan member, has again put a spotlight on the enduring influence of organized crime families. The Daniel family, whose internecine feuds and rivalries have shaped much of the city’s criminal history, remain central figures in this ongoing saga. The attack on Kelly Bo Green’s home earlier this year only heightened anxieties, as did the subsequent police activity and the removal of animals from her property—a detail that, while seemingly small, spoke volumes about the seriousness of the investigation and the threat to those involved.
Meanwhile, the Carntyne stabbing is a sobering reminder that violence is not confined to the underworld. Disputes over parking—an issue familiar to urban dwellers everywhere—can, under the wrong circumstances, explode into tragedy. The case has prompted calls for greater efforts to mediate neighborhood conflicts before they escalate, as well as renewed focus on the mental health impact of violent crime, both on direct victims and on the wider community.
As Glasgow awaits the outcomes of these cases, the city is left to confront uncomfortable questions: How can it break the cycles of violence that persist in some quarters? What more can be done to support victims and prevent everyday disputes from turning deadly? For now, the Drumchapel and Carntyne incidents serve as stark reminders of the challenges that remain, and the human costs of violence in all its forms.
