Gangland figure ‘paranoid’ after previous shooting

KEVIN Carroll, who was shot dead in a supermarket car park, was “paranoid” about people following him because he had been shot on a previous occasion, a court has heard. Stephen McLaggan, 25, said Mr Carroll paid attention to other vehicles around the car he was travelling in for a long time. Mr McLaggan, who was in the front passenger seat of the Audi A3 in which Mr Carroll was killed, told the High Court in Glasgow today that he ran across to another retail park when he saw two masked men get out of a black Volkswagen Golf and approach their vehicle. He was giving evidence at the trial of Ross Monaghan, 30, who denies murdering the gangland figure, known as “Gerbil”, while acting with others, outside an Asda store in Robroyston, Glasgow, on January 13 2010. He has lodged a special defence of incrimination, blaming a man who cannot be named for legal reasons and seven others. Mr McLaggan told the court he was aware that both Mr Carroll and a man called John Bonner who was driving the Audi that day had been shot in the past. Advocate depute Iain McSporran asked him if he thought that made it a “dangerous car to be in”, to which Mr McLaggan replied: “Yes.” Mr McSporran asked if Mr Carroll and Mr Bonner paid attention to other vehicles when they were out in Mr Bonner’s car. Mr McLaggan said: “They were obviously looking out for motors following behind for a long time and that. They were obviously paranoid about getting shot again.” Monaghan is also alleged to have attempted to defeat the ends of justice by concealing a revolver, a pistol and ammunition under bricks and undergrowth in Academy Street, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, and setting fire to a car. He is further charged with possessing guns and ammunition without a proper certificate. Monaghan denies all the charges against him.