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Scottish gangland killer let out of jail for dad's funeral and flanked by guards

A feared gangland killer was let out of prison on Monday so he could attend his father's funeral.

Jailed in 2010 for the road rage killing of van driver Mark Fleeman, 32, Paul Lyons was flanked by three prison guards as he paid respect to his dad, business boss David Lyons.

While in prison Paul, who hit speeds of 100mph as he chased down his victim while driving on the M74 after a night out, has been caught with illicit mobile phones three times whilst serving his sentence. Though he argued he had the devices because he missed his family.

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Sources say they are a 'very close knit family' and he played an active role in his father's funeral. As well as placing a rose in his dad's coffin the killer also gave a speech as part of the eulogy, as the Daily Record reports.

A source said: "They're a very close-knit family and it meant everything to Paul to get out for the funeral. He was delighted at the fact he also got to take part in the ceremony and tell everyone how much his dad meant to him.

"He's lucky he was shown so much compassion - far more compassion than he's ever shown for his victim or his family."

Paul was jailed for 12 years in 2010 over the death of Mr Fleeman near Larkhall, Lanarkshire. The High Court in Glasgow heard the banned driver rammed the father-of-two's van, which left the road and overturned. Mr Fleeman died at the scene and his passenger, 17-year-old Lee Allsup, suffered life-changing brain and leg injuries.

Garage owner David passed away in December and made is final journey at Glasgow Crematorium, in the city's Lambhill area on Monday afternoon. Around 500 mourners headed to the venue, with so many in attendance that dozens were unable to get a seat and had to stand outside in the freezing cold.

His brothers, gang boss Eddie Snr, and Johnny, who was the first to be shot during the decades-long feud with the rival Daniel clan, were also in attendance. It's understood that his nephew Steven Lyons, 41, and crime clan associates Ross Monaghan, 41, and Victor Gallagher, 47, who are all believed to be in Spain, watched the service on a live feed broadcast online.

The crematorium in Cumbernauld is just yards from where David grew up and went on to run his business. He lived in the neighbouring area of Cadder as a boy and opened Applerow Motors MOT station when he became an adult.

The garage soon became the scene of a bloodbath, marking one of the most shocking incidents in Scottish gangland history. In 2006, hitmen from the rival Daniel gang stormed David's garage and launched a fatal gun attack.

David's nephews Steven and Michael were shot during the attack resulting in Michael, 21, being killed and Steven was badly injured. The shootout was was carried out by henchman Raymond Anderson and James McDonald.

Doctors had to remove a bullet fragment from Steven's back after the attack, and he was left with his leg in plaster for 12 weeks. Anderson, 60, and McDonald, 48, were later jailed for 30 years for the shooting spree, which saw them using stolen British Army guns.

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