Greenock firebombings trial latest

Craig McFarlane was discussing in text messages the death of George Miller — who had died as he petrol-bombed a house on Union Street — with another man.

In response to a message from the other man, who stated that Miller had 'made a James Blunt of it', McFarlane wrote: "A James Burnt of it."

Miller burned to death at the scene of the attack on September 13, 2020.

Details of McFarlane's message conversation were revealed during telephony evidence at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday afternoon.

He referred to Miller as 'pan breed' after the other man wrote: "Deid as a dodo."

It was the second time that the flat on Union Street had been firebombed — the first attack having occurred on July 13, 2020.

The property was the home of the mother of Andrew Sutherland and Lenny Cole, who had attacked the 18-year-old brother of petrol-bomb conspiracy accused Robert Warnock.

Sutherland was convicted of the attempted murder of Reece Warnock, who subsequently died months after the attack.

The court heard earlier how petrol bomb conspiracy co-accused Drew Darling, a taxi driver, had Craig McFarlane's contact details stored on his phone as 'flash pal'.

An SMS text message was sent from Darling's phone to McFarlane's number at 3.30am on July 13, 2020 — the day of the first attack at Union Street — stating: "I'm here mate."

McFarlane relied: "Ok bro."

The court also heard how McFarlane and Robert Warnock had mentioned 'tools' and 'hingys' during a series of phone calls Warnock made from Shotts Prison in Lanarkshire.

The men are charged with discussing the acquisition of firearms and the shooting of people.

In one recorded conversation McFarlane tells Warnock: "Kyle went down to Sudgie's [Sutherland's uncle] but didnae know how tae use that hing..."

Warnock states: "See sending wee guys doon..."

McFarlane replies: "I didnae send anyone down. I was in ma bed."

Warnock says: "Whit? And they went doon and didnae know how to use it? Aw, whit."

In a call with his mother, Caroline McIntosh, on July 24, Warnock stated: "Kyle didnae know how tae use it. That's what happens when you send a wee boy down."

The court was told that McFarlane has a younger brother called Kyle.

During a conversation recorded on July 26, 2020 McFarlane tells Warnock that someone had tried to 'dae' a relative of Sutherland and Cole jnr 'with a banger', adding: "He didn't have it in the right position, put it that way."

Detective Constable Kirsteen Hamilton, a member of the Major Investigation Team based in Paisley, told the court how she took a statement from McFarlane after his own flat at Kincaid Court was firebombed on September 28, 2020.

The court heard that in his police statement McFarlane said: "I've been asked about a feud in Greenock...I've heard rumours and gossip and seen stuff on social media but I don't know anything about it myself.

"I have no idea who would want to burn out my house. I am not involved in any dispute in Greenock."

The court was told that during the course of his statement, McFarlane was asked about a number of incidents which occurred in July and September of 2020.

When asked about the date of July 13, when then Union Street flat was first torched, McFarlane told police that he was 'probably' at the home of an ex-girlfriend called 'Stephanie' in Castlemilk.

McFarlane stated that he had 'no idea of her address' and that he didn't know her surname, but said: "I would have been with Stephanie and not in Greenock."

Regarding dates on September 14 and 15, McFarlane told the police: "I was indoors with Shannon all night."

Robert Warnock is said to have conspired with Craig McFarlane, 26, Brendan O'Donnell, 24, Drew Darling, 27, Kieran McAnally, 25, Cain Carr, 22, and Lee Heron, 24, to murder Leonard Cole snr and Rosaleen Sutherland, as well as five other people — including a six-year-old girl.

The trial, before Lord Mulholland, continues.