Notorious Scots gangster escorted from prison to give 'emotional' speech at mum's funeral

dailyrecord.co.uk:

One of Scotland’s most notorious gangsters was escorted from jail to give an “emotional” speech at his mum’s funeral.Despite being handcuffed to a security guard, violent John Hardie eulogised about his mother to a packed Springburn Parish Church in Glasgow.The service was attended by associates from the infamous Lyons gang, who are locked in a decades-old bloody turf war with the Daniel clan in the north of the city.Police were on the scene in unmarked cars amid fears of a reprisal over the attack by Hardie and five cronies on rival gang leader Steven “Bonzo” Daniel in May 2017.

Hardie, 39, was caged for 20 years for his part in the attack on Daniel –nephew of late crime boss Jamie Daniel – and other victims.Bonzo was rammed by his attackers after a 100mph car chase then hacked with a machete leaving him scarred for life, with appalling facial injuries.One source said: “Hardie was one of the top people in the Lyons gang and he is still very much in touch with the mob from inside jail.“The church was packed and he was taken to the lectern by the guards to give a speech.

He spoke for three minutes or so and was quite emotional. He said she was a very good gran for his kids and he spoke very well.”Hardie’s mum Helen was just 60 when she died last week.

The source added: “Many were there to mourn the death of a friend but everyone would have been aware of the tension.“There is a lurking menace inside prisons whenever these people are inside, as members of the other side will always seek to settle scores.“But the dangers will always be amplified on the outside, no matter the occasion, as gangsters have no respect for any occasion.”In August, 2021, Hardie was caught trying to flush a phone down his cell toilet during a search