Paisley Daily Express
COPSRECOVERED COCAINEWORTH £640K IN CROOK’SFLAT
A man caught in a £640,000-cocaine bust is behind bars. Steven Kirk, 29, was snared following a raid at his flat in Paisley, on October 8 last year. Police initially discovered five taped blocks of cocaine on the living room floor. Three were marked...
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HEAVEN AND WELL
SamuelshinesforSaintsbutSteelmen steal point at the death in Paisley thriller
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WOODLAND CAMPAIGNERS ‘DEVASTATED’
Paisley campaigners have been left “sickened” after a woodland they claimed was ancient was cut down. The wooded area known as Hollybush was felled on Wednesday as part of preparatory works for the Abercrombie Park housing development. It saw a...
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CHILDSENT TONURSERY WITHDRUGS INPOCKETS
A toddler was found with two packets of drugs in their pocket at a nursery. The tot was discovered with diazepam and cocaine by staff at the nursery in Glasgow’s southside on May 27, 2025. The child was dropped off by George Robertson, 37, of...
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VIOLENTSEX BEASTJAILED FORHORRIFIC ABUSEOFVICTIM
A violent sex offender who subjected a woman to a horrifying catalogue of abuse has been jailed for nine years. George Collins, 54, inflicted repeated assaults on the victim at addresses in Paisley, a village in the Highlands and on the Isle of...
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DEALERJAILED FOREXPLOITING SCHOOLBOYINTO SELLINGDRUGS
A dealer guilty of exploiting a schoolboy to sell drugs for him has been locked up for almost seven years. Matteullah Siddiqi was yesterday sentenced following one of the first convictions of its kind in Scotland. Siddiqi preyed on the 14-year-old...
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MAKESITESAFE ORFACECHARGES
The owners of the beleaguered Royal Alexandra Infirmary have until Friday to secure the Calside property. It is the second deadline to be issued by Renfrewshire Council after its initial demand the site be made “safe and secure” by July 31 was...
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GRAMMARFLATS PLANSTEPCLOSER
Plans to transform the former Paisley Grammar into flats with a further 92 built within the grounds have been recommended for approval. The planning department for Renfrewshire Council has recommended two planning applications associated with the...
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£3M RESCUEBID FORBUILDINGS
Plans to restore the much-loved Kelvin House and Forbes Place could take a massive leap forward as a £3 million grant application is submitted to the Scottish Government. The listed properties, which have fallen into a state of disrepair, have been...
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DRIVERACCUSED OFDEATHCRASH
A van driver is to stand trial charged with killing a woman in a head-on crash. James Graham allegedly struck a Mercedes A-Class in which Lesley Jane McTear, 59, was a passenger on the A737 road in Howwood, on September 23, 2024. It is claimed...
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SITEFORNEW SCHOOLWILL NOTTAKEOFF
Netherton Avenue is “fundamentally unsuitable” as the location for a new Trinity High School, Renfrewshire Council has said. Education chiefs were instructed to examine the viability of the site for a newbuild secondary school when they presented...
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FASHIONFIRM’S DEBTSOF £46M BEFORECOLLAPSE
The Paisley-founded fashion firm M&Co owed £46 million when it was plunged into administration last year, new documents have revealed. The business, headquartered at Inchinnan Business Park, axed over 1,800 jobs when it closed all 168 of its stores in...
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ALLYTAKESHIS HOUSINGBID TOEXTRATIME WITHAPPEAL
Ally McCoist has gone to the government in a bid to get the green light for a controversial luxury housing development. The football pundit, 63, hopes to build 33 houses and flats on a vacant site in Bridge of Weir. Proposals include details for four...
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EVERY DAY IFEEL LUCKY TO BE HERE
A Paisley mum whose life was saved by a stem cell transplant a decade ago is set to mark the occasion by walking 10km for charity. Kirsteen Martin was given a life-threatening diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia in May 2016 after initially visiting...
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DELIBERATE FIREPROBE
Detectives yesterday continued to investigate a “wilful” blaze at a flat in Paisley. Emergency services personnel raced to a block in the town’s Netherhill Road around 3pm on Thursday following reports of a fire. Members of the Scottish Fire and...
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Did you get a glimpse of the eclipse?
More than 90 per cent of the sun was obscured throughout Scotland at the peak of the eclipse on Wednesday evening. People across Renfrewshire came out in the hope of witnessing a once-in-a-generation solar eclipse. However, many folk were left...
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THUGSTABBED HIMSELF...AND BLAMEDKNIFE ATTACKVICTIM
A Barrhead thug who blamed the knife wound to his leg on the man who he had earlier subjected to a life-threatening assault was jailed yesterday. Thomas Irvine, 51, was given five years and four months for striking Allan Wheelan with a blade in...
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GETSETFOR COUNCIL’S RUBBISH SHAKE-UP
Bin collection days are changing for every Renfrewshire resident, it was revealed yesterday. Renfrewshire Council is embarking on an overhaul to modernise the key service. How often each bin is collected is not changing. However, householders will...
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DRIVE-THRU REJECTION APPEALCASE TOBEHEARD
An appeal against Renfrewshire Council’s rejection of plans for a commercial development in Paisley – featuring a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant – is expected to be determined in the coming months. Chargemaster, trading as BP Pulse, was denied...
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ANEWERAFOR RENFREWSHIRE
The new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus will open its doors to pupils later this month – and the first images showing the completed inside can today be revealed. Renfrewshire Council has released the first architectural photography of the...
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PAEDOPHILE WAS‘CAUGHT RED-HANDED’ BYOFFICERS
A sex offender who told a‘12-yearold girl’ to miss school so she could meet up with him in Paisley and have sex has been spared jail. Robert Gallacher told the youngster they could go “somewhere quiet” in his Audi A3 and that the red vehicle had a...
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MOTORBIKECLUB MEMBERS CAUGHTUP IN‘ATTACK’
Members of a motorcycle group at the centre of incidents in Renfrewshire were embroiled in mayhem on the motorway. Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club president Mark ‘Bruni’ Brown said it was he and his fellow bikers who were assaulted with “swords and bats” on...
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MANONMURDER BIDCHARGEAFTER BIKERSHITBYCAR
A man has been charged with attempted murder after a group of motorcyclists were struck by a car in Bishopton. The incident took place in Greenock Road around 1.30pm on Saturday, July 11. Emergency services raced to the scene and there were no...
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RAHCLERICAL WORKERSSET TOWALKOUT
Staff from the Royal Alexandra Hospital will be on the picket line this morning in a dispute over pay and grading. Ward clerks from the Paisley hospital are joining their colleagues across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) in the two-day strike...
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I’LLFIGHT FORTRUTH UNTILMY LASTBREATH
The grieving mother of tragic Emma Caldwell has demanded the truth over the botched investigation into her death. Erskine woman Margaret has joined forces with former Sunday Mail editor Jim Wilson, lawyer Aamer Anwar and MSP Pauline McNeill to demand...
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VILEDEALER ‘BROUGHT FEARAND MISERYTO PAISLEY’
A Paisley man has been jailed for his part in directing serious organised crime after being extradited from Spain. Twenty-nine-year-old Callum Fox (pictured right) was sentenced to five years in prison during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh...
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FUGITIVE CROOK’S ROLEIN £15M DRUGS RING
A fugitive member of a Scots crime supergang has been jailed for five years and 10 months for his role in a massive £15 million drugs and dirty money operation. John Gray, who is from Paisley, was at the top table of the mob alongside kingpin brothers...
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FIRMWINSAPPEAL FORDRIVE-THRU SITEDEVELOPMENT
Contentious plans for a petrol station, kiosk and drive-thru café in Paisley look set to go ahead after they landed the green light on appeal. The proposed development – which includes an electric vehicle charging facility – at West March Road, south...
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MURDER PROBE AFTER TRAGIC DISCOVERY
The husband of a woman who was murdered in Renfrewshire had been charged with assaulting her weeks before her death. Stacy Mair, 35, was found dead in a cottage in the village Scene Police at the cottage of Houston around 7.50am on Monday...
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DOUBLEDEATH INVESTIGATION
Police have launched an investigation after a man and a woman were found dead in Renfrewshire. The bodies of the man, aged 43, and the 36-year-old woman were discovered near Houston on Monday morning after officers responded to reports of concern for...
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EXPERIENCED CAREWORKER MADECREEPY COMMENTS TOCOLLEAGUE
A Johnstone care worker who made sexually inappropriate comments to a colleague in the presence of a vulnerable person has been struck off. Malcolm McCloy has been removed from the part of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Register for...
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REPEATSEX OFFENDER ‘HASNO REMORSE’
An abuse survivor has welcomed the conviction of a repeat sex offender who exploited his position of trust to prey on children. Marc Sherland was sentenced to five years in jail at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday after being convicted of abusing three...
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‘YOU’REPLAYING RUSSIANROULETTE’
Youths who have attempted to trespass onto the tracks at a train station in Johnstone have been warned they are risking their lives. Elected members have been contacted about the reckless conduct which has been witnessed at Milliken Park Station, off...
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BIDTOOVERTURN DRIVE-THROUGH PLANSREJECTION
A company has challenged Renfrewshire Council’s decision to reject plans for a McDonald’s drive-through restaurant and an electric vehicle charging hub in Paisley. Chargemaster, trading as BP Pulse, was denied planning permission for the commercial...
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PREDATOR PARAMEDIC STRUCKOFF FORSEXUAL OFFENCES
A seedy paramedic who avoided jail after exposing himself to a female colleague at an ambulance depot has been struck off. Gavin Boa, 33, exposed himself to a female colleague at an ambulance station, pressured a colleague to expose her breasts to him...
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SCHOOLBOY PREYEDON TOSELLFOR VILEDEALER
A dealer is behind bars for exploiting a schoolboy to sell drugs for him in one of the first convictions of its kind in Scotland. Matteullah Siqqidi preyed on the 14 yearold having initially met him at a games arcade in Glasgow last year. The child...
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DERELICT SITEISA ‘DEATH TRAP’
A Renfrewshire businessman is pleading with Renfrewshire Council to take action on a derelict building before someone is seriously hurt. Joe Franchi, who operates Kona Group on Lawn Street, says a neighbouring building has fallen into such a state of...
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MOTORWAY CLOSED FOR HOURS M8 BRIDGE PLUNGE HORROR
Two women were rushed to hospital after a car crashed through a barrier on a Paisley bridge and landed on the M8 motorway. The incident happened at around 8:40pm on Thursday between Renfrew Road and junction 27 of the motorway. Two women were taken...
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RAI OWNER HITWITH SAFETY ORDER
The owners of a firehit former hospital building in Paisley have been ordered to complete works to make it secure by the end of the month. Renfrewshire Council has outlined measures that need to be undertaken at the old Royal Alexandra Infirmary in...
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ROADRAGE BUSDRIVER GUILTY
Sentenced A Paisley bus driver who drove off with a cabbie clinging on to its doors in a fit of road rage avoided jail yesterday. Daniel Smith, 35, got into an argument with George Meek, 67, after crashing into him in Glasgow’s Hillington on...
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MANHUNT AFTER STREET ATTACK
Police have launched a manhunt following an attempted murder in Paisley. The “violent attack” took place on George Street at around 8pm on Monday when a 53-year-old man was left with serious injuries. He was rushed to hospital where his condition was...
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MUMSEEKSFUNDS TOGETZAKHOME
A Renfrewshire holidaymaker who suffered a horror “threestorey” fall while in Malta is ready to come home after waking from an induced coma. Zak Mcgowan, 21 (pictured) sustained head injuries, a fractured spine, and several broken bones following the...
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MASKEDE-BIKE ANDSCOOTER GANGSSPARK FEAR Community call for action as residents‘intimidated’
Masked riders have been spotted cruising around Renfrewshire on e-bikes and e-scooters in a trend that is “intimidating” communities. Independent politicians have held talks with cops to learn more about a crackdown on the anti-social behaviour...
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MUM’S ANGER OVER£50KFINE FORSON’SDEATH
The mum of a young dad killed at work says she is“disgusted”after his employer was fined a “mere” £50,000. Steven Tervit, pictured, had been carrying out a dismantling operation at a specialist technology centre in Renfrew when he was ejected from a...
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FAILED FRAME-UP
A thug who carried out a murder bid on a man went on to stab his own leg and blamed his victim. Thomas Irvine struck Allan Wheelan in Barrhead on April 16. The pair were separated by an unknown male with Irvine shouting as he walked away: “I’ve...
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IS THERE NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT CHILD POVERTY?
A Barrhead councillor insists she is “disheartened” at the lack of progress on tackling child poverty rates in the town. The SNP’s Angela Convery hit out after a report showed the highest rates were in parts of Dunterlie, East Arthurlie, Dovecotehall...
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COMMUTERSTO FACEAMASSIVE DISRUPTIONTO ROADANDRAIL
Renfrewshire residents are facing road and rail travel disruption. The southbound carriageway of the Erskine Bridge, as well as one lane of the northbound carriageway, will be fully closed for a full weekend next month due to resurfacing...
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FAMILYANGUISH OVERTRAGICEND TODREAMTRIP
A Barrhead dad has died after taking seriously ill shortly before flying home from a holiday in Turkey. David Kelly (pictured) was due to jet home with his wife, Dawn, when his health rapidly deteriorated. The hard-working joiner was rushed from the...
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CAREREPQUITS AFTERSERVICES AXEAPPROVED
The carer representative on Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board (IJB) has resigned following the approval of controversial costcutting proposals. It has been confirmed Willie Paton, who was a non-voting member of the oversight body, has stepped down...
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LESSTALK,MORE ACTIONTO SECURE RAISITE Plea after latest blaze at former hospital building
Strengthened security measures are needed at a deserted hospital building in Paisley after last weekend’s blaze. That’s the message today from Renfrewshire councillor Eddie Devine. Police Scotland continues to investigate Sunday afternoon’s...
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ALLYTREES DECISION WILLGOTO EXTRATIME
A site visit has been scheduled in connection with a dispute between a Bridge of Weir resident and Rangers hero Ally McCoist over the height of two trees on his property. The football pundit’s neighbour recently challenged Renfrewshire Council’s...
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HIT-AND-RUN MURDER BID
An attempted murder investigation was launched yesterday after a woman was knocked down during a broad daylight hit-and-run. The incident happened around 3.45pm on Tuesday in Linwood. A car was deliberately driven at the 49-yearold woman on Clippens...
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RAGINGTHUG THREATENED HISOWNSISTER WITHANAXE
A Paisley axe maniac was snared prowling the streets armed with the weapon he used to threaten his sister. Gary Murdoch lost the plot after having an argument with his sibling over relationships during a drinking session. A pal had to step in and...
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FEARSOVER DELIBERATE FIREATRAI
Police were yesterday treating a fire at a deserted hospital building in Paisley as deliberate amid public concern about the “incredibly scary” incident. Emergency crews were called to the former Royal Alexandra Infirmary (RAI) building on Calside...
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CENTRESITESTILL FORSALEDESPITE AUCTIONMYSTERY
The Paisley Centre is still being put up for sale, its owners have confirmed, days after it was pulled from an online auction. The shopping centre and its associated car park had been listed as two separate lots in an auction organised by...
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PUTTINGLIVESATRISK
Renfrewshire councillors yesterday insisted lives are being put at risk by people throwing objects towards motorists on the A737. Police have launched an appeal for information following incidents which took place earlier this month. Items were...
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Three years behind bars for designer clothing scam
A Paisley man who was caught with one of the biggest hauls of counterfeit designer clothing in UK history has been jailed for three years. Ian Jones, 65, built up a £3.8 million store of fake high-end designer goods from Hong Kong, China and...
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‘PEOPLEARE DYING...CUTS ARETOBLAME’
Renfrewshire carers have warned ‘people are dying’as more pressure will be placed on their shoulders as a result of the approval of costcutting proposals. Measures drawn up to help close a £14 million budget black hole facing Renfrewshire Health and...
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DOCTOR’S STALKING BRANDED ‘SINISTER’
An NHS doctor who spent years hounding a Paisley patient in a “bizarre” and “sinister” stalking campaign has been spared jail. Dr Neitu Jeyasingh illegally accessed the man’s medical records to find out where he lived. She bombarded him and his wife...
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ARMEDCOPS RESPONDTO DISTURBANCE
Armed police swooped on a Paisley street following a disturbance which saw a man arrested. The drama unfolded shortly before 6pm on Sunday night at Arnott Place in the town. Multiple police vehicles, and appliances from the Scottish Fire and Rescue...
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HEARTBROKEN
The families of some of Renfrewshire’s most vulnerable people have been left“heartbroken”after a raft of cuts to social care services were approved. Renfrewshire’s Integrated Joint Board – which oversees the health and social care partnership – agreed...
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WOMAN LEFTBABY ALONEIN PRAMATA CAREHOME
A Barrhead woman neglected a baby by abandoning them at a care home in the town. Robin McMurray ditched the youngster, who can’t be named for legal reasons, in Carlibar Road. The 20-year-old took the tot to the Millview Care Home, and then walked...
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NOCASHTOSAVE LIFELINESERVICES
The Scottish Government has refused to stump up cash to save lifeline social care services in Renfrewshire which face being cut today. Neil Bibby MSP (pictured right) called on John Swinney to address the funding crisis in Renfrewshire Health and...
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MANHITBY CARRUSHED TOHOSPITAL
A man was due to appear in court yesterday following a disturbance in Renfrew which saw a male hit by a car. The 31-year-old was arrested and charged in connection with the incident which took place in broad daylight on Tuesday afternoon. He was...
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VITALSERVICES FACINGTHEAXE OVERCASHCRISIS
Cost-cutting proposals affecting some of the area’s most vulnerable people will be reconsidered as bosses sound the alarm over spending pressures. Decision-makers will revisit measures drafted to help close a budget black hole facing Renfrewshire...
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‘ACTISCOWARDLY, SHAMEFULAND HASNOPLACEIN OURCOMMUNITY’
People are rallying behind an immigrant family after their Paisley home was targeted in what is believed to be a racist attack. The windows of the house on Dalskeith Avenue – where young children live – were smashed early on Thursday; locals fear it...
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DINNERDATE FORORANGE LODGEREFUSED
An Orange Lodge’s request for civic hospitality from Renfrewshire Council – which would have cost £2,100 – has been rejected by a majority of elected members. Paisley District Loyal Orange Lodge contacted the local authority to raise the possibility...
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BLOWN AWAYBY £400K
Paisley’s Craig Ferguson has been given a huge boost as he aims to complete his Tartan Trek across the United States today. Craig – who has spent the last three months walking from Los Angeles to Boston in a bid to raise £1 million for SAMH (Scottish...
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GRAVECONCERNS
Grieving residents have been angered by the state of parts of Hawkhead Cemetery as Renfrewshire Council insists it is“working hard” to cut overgrown areas. Frustrations have been aired over the length of grass in and around headstones, in particular,...
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PLANSSCRAPPED
Plans to transform the Paisley Centre have been scrapped and the building will be put up for sale, the Express can reveal. Beyond Retail, which purchased the property in 2020, said it was no longer pursuing plans to transform the shopping centre site...
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JAILEDFOR STEALING £50KFROM PARENTS
A Paisley carer has been jailed and banned from contacting her own parents, after admitting stealing £50,000 from them. Donna Devine swiped the cash from Jennifer and Patrick Devine over a three-year period. And Devine, of Orchy Crescent in Foxbar,...
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WORKER HANDED ‘STREETVALIUM’ TOSERVICEUSER
A Paisley social care worker has been handed a 12-month warning after returning suspected Street Valium tablets to a vulnerable service user. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) issued the warning to Eva Adamson who was employed as a housing...
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BOWLINGCLUB’S LANDSALECOULD BEROLLEDOUT
A long-standing Paisley bowling club’s plan to sell off unused land for housing in an attempt to secure its own future has taken a major step forward. Hawkhead Bowling Club has had its bid for planning permission in principle for a residential...
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