For several decades he was a major figure in the Glasgow underworld
crimeThompson snr ran his criminal empire from his home in Provanmill Road in North Glasgow while Friel was based in the Southside - controlling most of the crime in the city between them.By the time of his death, he had built up a major multi-million property empire including hotels restaurants, shops and pubs - said to have been made from drug dealing and high value frauds.Friel had friends in high places and among other criminals.
In his 2012 memoir Crimestopper, he said:"I first heard of Friel in the late 1970s when he was released from prison after being caught with a gun and explosives in a Glasgow club."The crime was said to have sectarian overtones and he was refused bail because he was said to have IRA links "But he didn't provide all of the men he claimed for, and civil servants were left chasing him for the money he had fraudulently obtained."
He was also said to have been behind an assassination attempt on Thompson snr in 1988, during which the intended target had a lucky escape. Six others who had witnessed the demolition yard attack also refused to identify him - including Thompson's brother-in-law.As a result, the gunman was set free and returned to Ireland.The younger Thompson claimed Friel had cheated him out of £50,000 over a drugs deal.
The man charged with the murder, Paul Ferris, was cleared at the High Court in Glasgow in June 1992 after a three-month trial while Thompson snr died from a heart attack nine months later.