Former gunrunner killed in New Year’s Eve attack
Lindsay Robb, 38, originally from Lurgan, Co Armagh, was assaulted in his car on Saturday evening outside shops in Gartloch Road, in the Ruchazie area of east Glasgow.
Police said they are “keeping an open mind” about the motive but do not suspect it was related to Mr Robb’s connections with the North.
He was jailed for 10 years in 1995 for involvement in a UVF gun smuggling plot but was released in 1999 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
At the time of his conviction he was a leading member of the Progressive Unionist Party, which was involved in peace deal talks.
Following his release, he moved to Scotland and was living in Airdrie with his wife and two children.
Strathclyde Police said Mr Robb had been working as a part-time gardener.
He was attacked in his Ford Fiesta on Saturday at about 5.50pm after dropping friends off outside an off-licence.
Police said the area was “very busy” at the time, with people making final preparations for Scotland’s Hogmanay celebrations.
Police are studying closed circuit television footage and have appealed for witnesses.
They said there was nothing to indicate a connection between Mr Robb’s murder and his conviction for gun-running but they were looking into his background as part of the inquiry.
Describing the attack as vicious, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Buchanan said: “We certainly have no indication that the reason he was attacked is anything to do with his past activities.
“We’re keeping an open mind as to why he was murdered but just now we’re appealing for information from any witnesses who can come forward and help us with this inquiry.”
Mr Buchanan said it was “too early to say” if Mr Robb knew who attacked him.
“These attacks tend not to be random but we don’t have any indication that he did know his attacker,” he said.
Mr Robb was jailed for attempting to smuggle guns through Scotland to the Ulster Volunteer Force.
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