A series of disturbing video clips showing violent gang fights between two warring families in North Lanarkshire have been described as 'deeply concerning'.
Footage given to the Daily Record showing members of the two clans armed with machetes, baseball bats and a shotgun is understood to involve members of the notorious McPhee family and another family known as the Williamsons after a brutal feud broke out between them.
Police investigating the sickening incidents, which took place near Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, earlier this month, are urging members of the public to come forward with information on those involved.
In one clip, a man who appears to be brandishing a firearm outside a caravan said to belong to the McPhees, is seen being repeatedly hacked at with huge machetes by two other yobs. As the bloody brawl continues, a tipper truck is filmed reversing at speed and deliberately ploughing into the mobile home - tearing down the wooden wall and ripping out the curtains from inside.
It is understood that children as young as two-years-old were inside the van as a woman can be heard screaming while the truck races off with the two knife thugs running behind it. A toy car and child's bike are also seen lying on the ground.
Another video shows a red truck, understood to belong to the Williamson family, being smashed up by a large group of men in what appears to be a McPhee revenge attack as they batter the motor with bats and poles.
One of the men in the clip is also filmed punching and kicking another man as he lies on the ground near the truck. The man can be heard begging for mercy with blood smeared across his face as his attacker repeatedly asks: “Who is the best? I said, who is the best? Tell me who is the best?”
The bare-chested brute continues with the beating until his victim is forced to admit: “McPhee is the best.” Another man, from off camera, then says: “That’s it. Job done, it's over. Forget it.”
A fourth clip later captures a phone call between the members of the McPhee and Williamson families after the attack at the mobile home.
A male McPhee family member is heard screaming down the line: “You’d be stupid to come out and fight cause I am killing you stone dead.
“I am killing you, weans, women, your father, the lot. I’m promising you now, the lot of you are dead.
“You’re getting it. You are getting cut to bits. No McPhee ever done anything to a Williamson you dirty dossers. You are a dosser.”
The man filming the call, understood to be a Williamson, then says: “Your father-in-law is going off swine hill right now” before a female voice on the other end of the line starts shouting through the phone.
She says: “My father’s not there. Son, my boy had a fight with your wee boy and you went up and rammed a trailer with my wee weans in it. My wee nieces and nephews were inside that. Children were in that chalet and you rammed it.”
The Williamson family member replies: “You shouldn’t have pulled guns out then. We were only coming to speak with you and you’s pulled guns out. Don’t worry we’ve got plenty of yoggers (slang for guns) here."
Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill has branded the incidents as "dangerous and reckless".
She said: "The footage obtained by the Daily Record is deeply concerning and I am glad that it has been passed to Police Scotland.
“The level of violence, the use of machetes and the presence of firearms make these incidents a serious worry for the wider public.
“These videos show completely unacceptable, dangerous and reckless behaviour and the people involved must face the full force of the law as a result.”
Police Scotland have confirmed they are investigating and are following several lines of enquiry.
Sergeant Steven Halliday of Coatbridge CID said: “Around 3.30pm on Friday, 4 November, police were called to a report of a disturbance in Caldercruix Road, Airdrie. Officers attended and carried out enquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The police investigation is ongoing with officers following a number of lines of enquiry at this time. Any witnesses or anyone with information should contact 101 with reference 2260 of 4 November.
“Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”
The McPhee family hit the headlines in 2018 after being jailed for a savage campaign of kidnappings, violence and intimidation against terrified workers.
Their crimes took place while they stayed at a number of sites across Scotland including one in Bathgate, West Lothian and another in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire. They latterly had a base at Currieside Piggery in Shotts, South Lanarkshire.
The crimes spanned between 1992 and 2016. The thug family made a good living from their mono-blocking, slabbing and tree cutting businesses.
Robert McPhee, 68, who is nicknamed The Tank Commander, joined forces with his son James, then 45, as well as son-in-law John Miller, 42, to prey on vulnerable men.
The eight victims were promised work and money by doing jobs such as mono-blocking driveways for the notorious family. But the men did mammoth shifts for little or no pay and were brutally punished if they complained or attempted to escape from the gang.
Robert McPhee – known as Bobby - was convicted of 14 charges, James McPhee eight and John Miller was found guilty of two. The catalogue of crimes included abductions, assaults and holding workers against their will or in “servitude”.
Robert McPhee was jailed for a total of 10 years and will be supervised for two years when he is eventually released.
James was sentenced to nine years behind bars and three years supervision while Miller was jailed for a total of seven years - which was later reduced to six on appeal.
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