Police in Spanish appeal for 'most wanted' Scots

News Reporter

Thursday 18 October 2012

SCOTS detectives have teamed up with officers in Spain in an international manhunt for two men suspected of involvement in separate gangland-style murders.

HUNT: The posters show pictures of Ferguson and Paterson.

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Helen McArdle

Strathclyde Police took the unusual step of holding a joint press conference with Crime-stoppers in Madrid yesterday as they appealed for information about the whereabouts of Derek McGraw Ferguson and William Paterson.

Paterson is wanted in relation to the shooting of Kevin "Gerbil" Carroll, who was ambushed by masked gunmen in an Asda supermarket car park in Robroyston, Glasgow, on January 13, 2010.

Detectives have been seeking to interview Paterson in connection with the murder for more than two years. It follows the acquittal of Ross Monaghan, 30 – the only person so far to have faced trial in relation to the killing – at the High Court in Glasgow on the grounds there was insufficient evidence to convict him in May.Meanwhile, the force has been actively hunting Ferguson for more than five years.He is alleged to have shot dead barman Thomas Cameron, 49, as he left work just before 7pm at the Auchinairn Tavern in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, on June 28, 2007.No-one has been arrested in relation to the shooting but police believe Mr Cameron knew his killers, and that he had arranged to meet two men in the car park outside the pub.Mr Cameron's 20-year-old son Ross died following an incident at a Hogmanay party in Bishopbriggs 18 months before his father's killing and a man was subsequently convicted of culpable homicide, although police have said previously they do not believe the two crimes are connected. Strathclyde Police said its officers will be working alongside Spanish colleagues on the ground in southern Spain to hunt for Ferguson and Paterson.They will also be speaking to local people and business owners to hand out Crimestoppers posters, printed in Spanish, with pictures of the two men and an appeal for information.Speaking in Madrid, Chief Superintendent John Cuddihy, head of Serious and Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism, said: "Strathclyde Police has an excellent working relationship with law enforcement in Spain and we will continue to work closely together to ensure Spain will be a hostile environment for fugitives."We will do everything possible to trace both fugitives, bring them to justice and remove them from your country."There is no doubt in my mind that to evade police for this period of time both these men have been receiving assistance from associates who live in these areas."Officers are currently and will continue to be on the ground in southern Spain, in areas these two men are known to frequent, to give information to locals and business owners about these men and how they may well be living among hard-working, honest people in their communities."I have no information that either of them pose any direct threat to the safety of the Spanish public, however the crimes they are wanted in connection with are extremely violent and I would urge the public not to approach them."If they see them or have any information as to their current whereabouts, then please phone the Crimestoppers number immediately."He urged anyone with information about the where-abouts of the men to contact Crimestoppers in Spain on 900 555 111 or in the UK on 0800 555 111.The latest drive comes 18 months after the pair were dubbed the Costa Scots when they were listed among the 10 most wanted British criminals believed to be in hiding in Spain by the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency.

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Police in Spanish appeal for 'most wanted' Scots

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