Robert O’Hara, already in prison for murder, gets nine more years for running drug empire and funding his partner.
The dirty money was flowing in fast. O’Hara tried to buy a Lamborghini for £225,000. His partner and daughter lived large too, residing in a £635,000 flat in Glasgow.
O’Hara killed Paul McDowall near his home in 2005. McDowall was stabbed. O’Hara also faced gun and drug charges.
Police raided a house in Glasgow in 2021 and found watches, jewelry, clothes, and cash. The goods were linked to O’Hara’s gang. The seized items were valued over £300,000.
O’Hara admitted to directing organized crime from prison between 2018 and 2021, receiving nine more years in jail. The police investigation began with another individual, leading them to uncover drugs, guns, grenades, ammo, and a pill press for Valium.
The prosecutor said O’Hara ran the crime group even while in prison since 2004. His family lived well, enjoying expensive homes, supercars, designer clothes, and jewelry. O’Hara’s criminal funds paid for it all.
Police caught O’Hara with illegal phones, from which he sent texts and photos. The messages showed he directed criminal activity to gain financial benefits. O’Hara had people add credit to his phones, which he used inside prison. He wanted a Lamborghini and asked someone to get it for him.
He received pictures from a car website, including one of a £225,000 Lamborghini Huracan. A spreadsheet on someone’s phone listed O’Hara’s money, showing drug income and expenses. It also listed “wages” paid to his partner and daughter, who lived in a fancy flat. O’Hara became upset when the rent wasn’t paid.
O’Hara warned someone about his family, threatening violence if they were bothered. He exchanged texts with his partner in 2021, directing her to find expensive houses. He sent her links to 71 properties priced between £500,000 and £1 million in wealthy areas.
These properties included flats and houses, one flat costing £525,000 and a house costing £635,000. His partner viewed houses under his direction. He seemed sure he could buy the properties, despite having no legal income.
Police raided the flat on June 17, 2021, seizing cash, clothes, shoes, and accessories valued over £30,000. They also seized watches and jewelry. Other properties linked to the gang were searched, yielding more high-value watches, trainers, and cash. One watch was thought to be a Rolex Daytona.
O’Hara’s lawyer said he pleaded guilty early to sort things out for his family, knowing it was the right thing to do. The judge reduced his sentence due to O’Hara’s honesty but saw no reason to reduce it further.