- One of Manchester's most infamous gangs, formed in the 60s, was the Quality Street Gang. Named after the advert which showed a group of well-dressed men walking into a pub with a certain swagger, the gang was well known for sending the Krays 'packing' from Manchester when the brothers tried to expand their operation.
- One of Manchester's most infamous gangs, formed in the 60s, was the Quality Street Gang. Named after the advert which showed a group of well-dressed men walking into a pub with a certain swagger, the gang was well known for supposedly sending the Krays 'packing' from Manchester when the brothers tried to expand their operations. Bernie chats to three of the members: Jimmy The Weed Donnelly, whose fame is such that Thin Lizzy wrote the song Jimmy The Weed about him, and Terry Barlow and Arthur Donnelly.
The QSG became national news in 1986 when Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, John Stalker, was removed from the Shoot To Kill inquiry he was conducting into the Royal Ulster Constabulary because he had allegedly attended social events in which gang members were present.
Bernie meets Sean Keating who tells us about his late father and Manchester legend, Ken Keating. He talks about his eccentric, anarchist father who advised villains which premises to burn down during riots, as well as the infamous van he drove around the streets of the city urging people to pick up the phone and inform the villains who the local informants were. Ken Keating, an anarchist, befriended Paul Massey and employed his muscle to wage war on the establishment. Sean talks about Massey.
Manchester's reputation as Britain's gun capital was cemented during the early 90s, when drugs and weapons became synonymous with the rave scene encapsulating clubs such as The Hacienda. However it was during the 80s that the city saw considerable unrest and social change, bringing to the fore Derek Noonan and Salford's Paul Massey.
Massey emerged as a spokesman for the community, often touted as a defender of the elderly and vehemently against the burgeoning drugs scene. Along with Wayne Barker (who set up community based charities and raised thousands) Massey was viewed by the authorities as a major criminal using good deeds as a front for sinister purposes.
Massey will also tell us about his friend, ex-IRA man Kevin 'Tiny' Donoghey, who died of cardiac arrest linked to drugs and his diabetes condition. Donoghey was given a military funeral by both his criminal and terrorist associates, the only time anyone has received a full IRA terrorist funeral, complete with masks and guns, in mainland Britain.
Massey discusses the gun scene in the city, his own Mr Big label, and Bobby Spiers, who was recently convicted of murder but whom Massey claims is innocent. Spiers attempted to murder David Totton and Arran Travers in the Brass Handles pub in Salford. Both were shot in the body and head by two hit men funded by Spiers. The hit men were overpowered and executed with their own weapons.
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