George Redmond

Nine shots crack through Glasgow city centre on a Monday night, and within seconds George Redmond is dying on the pavement outside the Waldorf Bar. The gunman is gone, the stolen Porsche Cayenne disappears towards the M8, and by the time police catch up it’s burning in Gartkosh with every trace of evidence going up in smoke. That single detail tells you what kind of killing this is: not a drunken fight, but a planned execution designed to leave nothing behind.

We walk you through Redmond’s rise from the East End streets of Brigton into a feared reputation built on intimidation, assaults and public violence. We revisit the moments that shaped how people saw him: the 1991 murder trial where he is acquitted while his brother takes a life sentence, the “Pulp Fiction funeral” where a minor slight nearly ends in a shotgun attack, and the 2006 stabbing of David “Mincy” McKenzie that some believe plants the seed for revenge. We also dig into the confrontation with Michael Norton, a former police officer turned drug dealer, and how brazen humiliation can create enemies who don’t forget.

Then we get into what makes this one of Scotland’s most professional unsolved executions: the convoy theory, the rumoured Belfast hitman, the burned-out vehicle, and the Glasgow code of silence that leaves detectives chasing whispers instead of statements. The suspect list isn’t short, it’s endless and that might be the point.

If you’re into Glasgow true crime, Scottish cold cases and organised crime investigations, subscribe for more, share this with a mate, and leave us a review. Who do you think ordered the hit on George Redmond?

Transcript

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Welcome to A Dark City, the podcast that delves into the shadowy underbelly of Glasgow, a city with a storied past and a reputation for resilience. Here we uncover the chilling true stories of serious crimes that have left their mark on the city's history. From notorious gangland wars to unsolved mysteries, join us as we explore the darker side of Glasgow and the people whose lives were forever changed by its crimes. Listener discretion is strongly advised. October sixth, two thousand eight, ten twenty-five PM, Cambridge Street in Glasgow City Center. A man lies bleeding on the pavement outside the Waldorf Bar. Nine bullets have been fired, most missed, but the ones that hit struck him in the back as he spoke on his mobile phone. His friend cradles him, desperately trying to keep him conscious. George just kept saying, I'm gone, I'm gone. I cradled him in my arms and said, You're not going anywhere. You'll be all right. I love you. But it didn't look good. His eyes were rolling in his head. Then he went unconscious. George knew he was going to die. It was terrible. The gunman is already gone. A stolen black Porsche Cayenne speeds towards the M8, heading east. Within hours, the vehicle will be found burned out in Gartkosh, Lanarkshire, every piece of forensic evidence destroyed. George Redmond, 42 years old, feared enforcer for Glasgow's underworld, dies in hospital shortly after arrival. His friend, John McGuire, survives eight days in hospital under police guard, and more than 16 years later, no one has been charged with the murder. In this episode, we're investigating one of Scotland's most professional unsolved executions. A case where a feared Glasgow gangster was gunned down in broad daylight in a city centre pub where the hitman was believed to have come from Belfast, and where a list of suspects was so long that police couldn't narrow it down. This is the story of George Redmond, a man linked to extortion, drug dealing, and a string of violent attacks on rivals, a man who survived one murder charge in 1991 when his brother took a life sentence, a man whose reputation for extreme violence made him both feared and marked for death, and a killing so calculated, so professional, that it remains one of Glasgow's most baffling cold cases. The boy from Brigton. They were arenas where tenement blocks towered over narrow, litter-strewn streets, and unemployment-bred gangs. Kids learned quickly that survival wasn't a game. It was a strategy. Redmond's family life was complicated. He grew up around violence in the shadow of older criminals. As a boy, he witnessed arguments escalate into fights, disputes that ended in bloodshed. By age twelve, Redmond was running small jobs for older gangs, stealing, collecting debts, delivering messages that could carry consequences far beyond his own safety. School offered no refuge. Authorities were overwhelmed, families struggled, and gangs filled the void. Redmond became known for his quick temper, his sharp mind, and a willingness to fight. Early assaults, both provoked and preemptive, gave him a reputation among local youths. By his mid-teens, Redmond was embedded in local gang networks. He learned to handle knives, blunt weapons, and the intimidation tactics that would define his later criminal career. By seventeen or eighteen, he wasn't just surviving. He was carving influence, staking claims, operating with a level of brutality that set him apart. He had become someone who could terrorize his immediate environment, a young man already feared by the time most were still figuring out the streets. In 1991, George Redmond and his brother Patrick were charged with murder. A man had been killed in a Glasgow pub. The details were never fully publicized, but the case went to trial. George Redmond was acquitted, not convicted, but his brother Patrick was sentenced to life imprisonment. This early brush with a murder charge established a pattern that would define Redmond's criminal career. He was involved in serious violence, he associated with killers, but he knew how to avoid conviction. Witnesses refused to testify, evidence disappeared, fear kept people silent, and George Redmond walked free while his brother spent decades behind bars. The reputation built. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, George Redmond had evolved into a formidable figure in Glasgow's East End underworld. His criminal record was extensive, with multiple convictions for assaults, knife crimes, and street fights. Each conviction, each public brawl, each knife-wielding confrontation reinforced the fact that Redmond was not a man to be trifled with. But it was 2004 that cemented his reputation for extreme public violence. At a drug dealer's wake in Possle Park, Redmond and his crew confronted two men over what they considered a minor disrespect. One of his friends had his hair ruffled. The argument escalated quickly. Redmond allegedly ordered a shotgun to be retrieved from a car to shoot the pair at point blank range. The attack was only prevented when the wife of one of the intended victims threw herself over him, pleading for his life. Three other mourners, including a convicted bank robber and murderer, intervened to stop the shooting. The incident was later referred to by the media as the pulp fiction funeral. It highlighted Redmond's willingness to respond to minor slights with extreme public violence. No charges were ever filed. Witnesses refused to cooperate, a hallmark of Glasgow's tightly coded criminal culture. The nickname stuck. Redmond and his friend, John McGuire, became known as the Pulp Fiction Crew, likened to the hitmen in Quentin Tarantino's crime movie. Years later, in October 2006, Redmond's disputes with rival dealers escalated into serious violence. David Mincy McKenzie, a local drug dealer operating in overlapping territory with Redmond, became the target of a stabbing over-a-turf dispute. At a pub on Duke Street in Dennistown, Redmond confronted Mackenzie and stabbed him repeatedly. Mackenzie survived, but suffered serious injuries. The attack left him fighting for his life. The attack sent a clear message. Redmond would not tolerate challenges to his authority. Once again, no charges were filed. Witnesses were unwilling to speak, but Mackenzie would remember, and sources close to the investigation would later suggest that this stabbing played a direct part in Redmond's eventual murder. Mincy Mackenzie was interviewed by police following Redmond's death, but was never charged. He was, however, convicted in September 2009, following a major drugs operation and sentenced to over six years' imprisonment. Mackenzie was later revealed to be one of Scotland's most notorious underworld figures with links to European and Northern Irish crime syndicates. Redmond's audacity extended beyond rival gangs. In the months leading up to his murder, he became involved in a high-profile confrontation with Michael Norton, a former Glasgow police officer turned drug dealer. After Norton accused one of Redmond's associates of stealing a Subaru car from his gang, Redmond allegedly ran him over with a stolen Porsche, leaving him seriously injured. Redmond then reportedly demanded£6,000 from Norton for repairs to the vehicle he'd used to run him over. Police and media sources flagged Redmond as strongly linked to the incident, though no charges were ever brought. The attack demonstrated Redmond's ability to combine intimidation, audacity, and public spectacle to enforce his authority. But it also made more enemies, more people with motives to see him dead. By October 2008, George Redmond had accumulated a long list of enemies, rival drug dealers, former associates, people he'd stabbed, extorted, or humiliated. But Redmond maintained a boozy lifestyle, often dining and drinking with friends, a pattern that placed him in public spaces where his rivals could strike. October 6th, 2008 was a Monday. Around 7 p.m., Redmond and two close companions arrived at Gizzy's Bistro, an Italian restaurant owned by the family of celebrity chef Dante Ghizzi on Cambridge Street, just a short walk from the busy Socke Hall Street. They lingered over dinner, enjoying drinks and conversation, unaware that rival factions had been monitoring his movements. After finishing their meal, Redmond and his friends made their way to the nearby Waldorf Bar to continue drinking. As the night deepened, Redmond stepped outside the bar shortly before 10.30 p.m., phone in hand, catching up with calls and messages. His friend John Maguire lit a cigarette a few feet away, standing in the cool evening air. At this moment, Redmond appeared to be nothing more than a man enjoying a night out. But a black Porsche Cayenne SUV with the registration LJ05 F H R had been spotted earlier parked in a side street opposite the bar, watching, waiting. 10 25 p.m., nine shots. Without warning, the black Porsche Cayenne approached and drew up alongside Redmond. The window rolled down. The gunman fired nine rounds from an automatic pistol at a distance of roughly 15 feet. Redmond was struck in the back multiple times. Maguire, standing nearby, was also hit in the body and arms. The attack lasted only seconds. The whole pub heard the bangs. Witnesses saw flashes from the gun. Redmond collapsed. His friend rushed to him, cradling him on the pavement. George just kept saying, I'm gone, I'm gone. I cradled him in my arms and said, You're not going anywhere. You'll be alright, I love you. But it didn't look good. His eyes were rolling in his head. Then he went unconscious. George knew he was going to die. It was terrible. The whole pub heard the bangs, and I saw flashes. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Emergency services were immediately called. Both men were rushed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, roughly a mile from the scene. George Redmond was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. John Maguire spent eight days recovering under police guard. The Porsche Cayenne sped off towards the M eight eastbound, later spotted in the Wishaw area. Within hours it was found burned out in a luxury housing estate in Gartkosh, Lanarkshire. The vehicle had been stolen earlier and valeted in Glasgow's Springburn area. Every piece of forensic evidence was destroyed in the fire. Early reports stated that the gunman had been on a motorbike when he carried out the shooting. This was quickly dismissed, but one theory persisted. The hitman was believed to have come from Belfast. Sources suggested that the assassination was carried out by a professional killer brought over specifically for the job, someone with no direct connection to Glasgow's underworld, someone who could disappear back to Northern Ireland before the police even knew who to look for. Detectives also noted that a blue Ford Focus was seen traveling in convoy with the Porsche, both before and after the shooting. This suggested careful coordination, multiple vehicles, and backup support. This wasn't a street argument gone wrong. This was a planned, coordinated strike. A professional hit carried out in Glasgow's city center on a Monday night. The investigation from the moment the shots rang out, Strathclyde police understood they were dealing with a hit that bore all the hallmarks of organized crime. Officers from Anderson Police Office immediately launched a full-scale investigation. But from the start, they faced a familiar challenge in gangland cases. Witnesses were reluctant to speak. Despite the public nature of the attack, fear of reprisals and loyalty to the East End's Code of Silence limited the number of people willing to provide statements. A third companion, who had been dining with Redmond, came forward days later, but his testimony offered context rather than actionable leads. Detectives immediately considered potential motives rooted in Redmond's criminal history. The stabbing of David Mincy Mackenzie two years earlier, the incident with former officer Michael Norton, and Redmond's role as an enforcer in drug networks. Intelligence reports suggested that rival gangs, possibly aided by individuals from the security sector or brought in from Belfast, may have orchestrated the attack. But despite these leads, the investigation quickly ran into dead ends. The Porsche's destruction eliminated critical forensic evidence. Witness cooperation remained minimal. Police were forced to rely on intelligence from informants within Glasgow's criminal underworld. A world which often provided hints rather than concrete evidence. Even the fact that Redmond had been lured to the location raised questions. Who set up the meal at Gizzy's Bistro? Was it a deliberate trap? Some sources suggested that a gangland associate arranged the dinner specifically to place Redmond in a vulnerable location at a predictable time. The list of suspects. The problem wasn't a lack of suspects, it was too many. David Mincy Mackenzie, stabbed nearly to death by Redmond in 2006, was one of Scotland's most notorious underworld figures with links to European and Northern Irish crime syndicates. Michael Norton, a former police officer turned drug dealer, was run over by Redmond with a stolen Porsche, forced to pay£6,000 for vehicle repairs. Gangland figures said Redmond had ripped off some major drug dealers for consignments of cocaine. Any one of them could have ordered the hit. Associates within his own organization. Some suggested Redmond had upset people inside the networks he worked for. Internal disputes over money, territory, or loyalty, the security sector. Intelligence reports suggested individuals with connections to the security industry may have been involved in organizing the assassination. And then there were the personal feuds. Redmond was said to have been in a feud with other gangland figures after a man was slashed. Sources told police that George Redmond had upset a lot of nasty people, and that there was a list of people that could be suspects. With so many plausible motives and suspects, narrowing the field proved almost impossible. This is why the case remains unsolved. More than 16 years later, George Redmond's murder remains officially unsolved. Several factors contributed to this outcome. Glasgow's East End, where Redmond lived and operated, has long been shaped by a strict code of silence. Witnesses feared retaliation. Even those present at the scene were unwilling to speak publicly. The execution itself was professional. The hitman, believed to be from Belfast, left minimal trace. By the time the Porsche was found burned out in Gartkosch, much of the forensic trail had already disappeared. The Blue Ford Focus traveling in convoy also led to dead ends. Multiple vehicles suggested careful planning and coordination by experienced criminals who understood how to evade surveillance. Redmond's extensive criminal history created too many suspects. With so many people who had motive to kill him, police couldn't narrow the field, and perhaps most significantly, public perception complicated the investigation. Redmond's reputation as a feared enforcer meant that some authorities and media sources viewed him as a figure who got what was coming. This subtly shaped investigative priorities. The Waldorf bar itself later became embroiled in controversy. In June 2011, it was at the center of a police operation which found that the owner allowed drug dealers to sell cocaine there. Police described finding an assembly line for selling cocaine and a drug dealer carrying a gun. The bar was shut down, the owner's license revoked. The premises later reopened under new management as the Cambridge, but by then, Redmond's case had gone cold. No new leads emerged, no witnesses came forward. Over 15 years later, the combination of a professional assassination, a hostile criminal environment, and the unwillingness of witnesses to come forward has left George Redmond's murder officially unresolved. The case was handed over to Police Scotland when forces merged in 2013. It remains open, but detectives admit it's one of Scotland's most challenging unsolved cases. George Redmond's death on October 6, 2008, marked the end of a violent criminal career, but it didn't bring closure for anyone involved. From the rough streets of Brigton to his execution outside the Waldorf Bar, Redmond's story is defined by violence, intimidation, and fear. His 1991 acquittal on murder charges while his brother took a life sentence, the pulp fiction funeral in 2004, the Duke Street stabbing in 2006, the Porsche incident with Michael Norton. Each event added another layer to a reputation built on extreme violence. But reputation cuts both ways. The same violence that made Redmond feared also made him a target. Every enemy he created, every person he hurt, every slight he delivered, added another name to the list of people who wanted him dead. When the gunman fired nine shots into his back on Cambridge Street, Redmond knew immediately what was happening. I'm gone. I'm gone, he told his friend. He knew he was going to die. The professional nature of the hit, the Belfast connection, the burned-out Porsche, the code of silence that followed, all ensured that his killers would never be caught. Gangland figures said George Redmond had a number of friends that were keen to avenge his murder. But sixteen years later, no revenge has come, no retaliation has been reported. Perhaps because everyone involved knew that Redmond's death was inevitable, that a man who lived by violence would die by violence, that the list of suspects was so long because the list of people he'd wronged was even longer. For the families affected by his actions throughout his criminal career, there may be little sympathy. For those who knew him personally, the loss remains. But the question persists. Who killed George Redmond? Was it Mincy Mackenzie finally getting revenge for the Duke Street stabbing? Was it Michael Norton paying back the Porsche humiliation? Was it a Belfast hitman brought in by rival drug dealers? Was it someone from within his own organization? We may never know. What we do know is that George Redmond's murder remains one of Scotland's most professional, unsolved executions. A surgical hit carried out in Glasgow's city centre, a case where too many suspects meant no justice, and a reminder that in Glasgow's underworld, violence breeds violence. Fear creates fear, and those who live by the gun often die by it.