Glasgow Ice Cream Wars

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM… over this true crime case known as the Glasgow Ice Cream Wars. We aren’t all watching the latest Food Network bake-off, unfortunately, this case has everything from assault to arson. It all happened back in early 80’s Glasgow. The streets were running rampant with Ice Cream Van drivers trying to overtake each other and steal the best route which ultimately led to the murder of almost an entire family.

References

Faux, Ronald. 1984. "Murder hunt after three die in house fire." The Times, April 17: 2.

Harris, Gillian. 1998. "Ice-cream killers back in jail after year of freedom." The Times, February 11: 3.

Mangan, Lucy. 2022. The Ice Cream Wars review – the gang crime that rocked Glasgow. November 23. Accessed January 17, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/23/the-ice-cream-wars-review-andrew-doyle-killers-1984-arson-attack-glasgow.

Newsroom, The. 2004. "Who did kill the Doyles?" The Scotsman, March 21.

Press Association. 2004. Glasgow 'ice cream war' conviction overruled. March 17. Accessed Janaury 17, 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2004/mar/17/ukcrime.

Skelton, Douglas, and Lisa Brownlie. 1992. Frightener: The Glasgow Ice Cream Wars. Edinburgh: Mainstream .

The Times. 1984. "Former adict tells trial of 'big gun'." The Times, September 5: 3.

—. 1984. "Ice Cream trial jury told of gun attack." The Times, September 7: 3.

—. 1984. "Life for ice cream killers." The Times, October 11: 3.

—. 1984. "Men 'attacked van with axe handles'." The Times, September 06: 3.

—. 1984. "Multiple murder trial told of ice cream van attacks and injury to drivers." The Times, September 4: 3.

—. 1981. "Three jailed for part in ice cream war." The Times, December 23: 3.

Special thank you to David White for research assistance!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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