A man linked to the murder of T2 Trainspotting star Bradley Welsh is being probed over links to an “urban hunting” ring.
A Midlothian man whose name came up multiple times in the Bradley Welsh trial has had his home raided and dog seized by the SPCA after a tip off about animal cruelty.
The Record reported that George ‘Dode’ Baigrie had a lurcher-type dog seized after investigators raided his house in Dalkeith, Midlothian.
Scottish SPCA inspectors moved in after receiving information that Baigrie owned lurcher type dogs used to hunt down foxes and deer.
Baigrie is also suspected of being heavily into illegal hare coursing.
His dogs are understood to have been kept in outdoor kennels and one was in very poor condition when investigators from the Scottish SPCA were tipped off about Baigrie’s activities.
A source said: “One dog was discovered wandering as a stray and taken to a vet. It was emaciated, in terrible condition and close to the threshold that would lead to it being destroyed. It is hoped it can be brought back to full health.
“Further enquiries suggested the dog, a lurcher, was one of Baigrie’s and investigators from the SPCA’s Special Investigations Unit were asked to check it out.
“When they got to his property they found another dog in terrible condition and they were forced to take it into their care.
“It will be rehomed unless Baigrie can put up a solid case for keeping it at a civil court, which is unlikely.”
The source said neighbours had reported groups of men meeting at Baigrie’s home late at night and heading to nearby woods.
The source said: “The dogs and men would go out hunting and Baigrie has come back with deer, which he appears to have been butchering in his garden.
“Neighbours have seen fox carcasses there too, which they have found disgusting.
“The dogs are left in the kennels at night and they have cried and whined and barked and been shown no affection.”
The latest revelations come just days after Baigrie’s home was raided by police.
Baigrie was said to be in the home in Dalkeith with his partner when officers arrived to execute a warrant.
It is not thought that any weapons, drugs or other crime paraphernalia was found and no charges were made.
Bradley Welsh was gunned down outside his home in April 2019.
Baigrie, 38, was repeatedly named during a murder trial earlier this year as the person who placed a £10,000 contract on Welsh.
Welsh was shot dead near his Edinburgh home in 2019 and hitman Sean Orman was later caged for 28 years.
Welsh was described as “collateral damage” in a feud between two notorious Scots criminals after finding himself on a “death list”.
