Tommy Comerford
Tommy Comerford | |
---|---|
Born | Thomas Anthony Comerford 19 October 1932 Liverpool, England |
Died | October 2003 Liverpool, England | (aged 70–71)
Other names | "Tacker", "Top Cat" |
Occupation | Crime boss |
Years active | 1960s–1990s |
Conviction(s) | Burglary (1970) Drug trafficking (1985) Drug trafficking (1996) |
Criminal penalty | 10 years' imprisonment (1970) 14 years' imprisonment (1985) 10 years' imprisonment (1996) |
Thomas Anthony "Tommy" Comerford[1] (19 October 1932 – October 2003), also known as "Tacker" and "Top Cat", was an English gangster. A longtime figure in Liverpool's underworld, Comerford dominated criminal activity in the Merseyside area, spending over 34 years in prison during the course of his criminal career. He was involved in narcotics, and was one of the first criminals to establish an international drug trafficking network in England.
Criminal career
The son of Elizabeth and John Comerford, he was born in
In August 1969, Comerford was part of a gang of robbers from the north of Liverpool who spent a bank holiday weekend tunnelling into a branch of the District Bank on Water Street in Liverpool city centre, using a thermal lance to open the safe and stealing over £140,000 in cash and £20,000 in property. Comeford allegedly gave a cigarette case which had been stolen during the break-in to his barrister, who later offered a senior police detective a cigarette from the case during a boxing match at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel. The detective reportedly recognised the case as being stolen from the bank, leading to the arrests of Comerford and the other robbers. In December 1970, Comerford was convicted of burglary and sentenced to ten years in prison. This was his second criminal conviction.[3]
After his release from prison several years later, Comerford abandoned robbery and became involved in the drug trade. In the late 1970s, he formed the "
As one of the first Liverpudlians to become involved in international drug trafficking, Comerford was among Liverpool's leading criminals in the 1980s. Described as "a larger-than-life
In the mid-1990s, HM Customs and Excise launched another covert operation against Comerford after receiving intelligence that he was involved in a new drug conspiracy. He was arrested in November 1995 during a sting operation at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham in connection with a ten-kilogram cocaine shipment from Ecuador, valued at £1 million, which was seized at Felixstowe.[4] He was given a ten-year prison sentence in November 1996.[3]
Comerford was charged with possession with intent to supply in March 2003 after police stopped and searched a car he was travelling in with a group of friends, finding a stash of heroin valued at approximately £10,000. Although Comerford's solicitor Robert Broudie claimed that his client was unaware of the drugs in the car, the case was ultimately never settled as Comerford died before he could stand trial.[4][8]
Death
Comerford was diagnosed with liver cancer in August 2003,[4] and he succumbed to the disease in October that year at the age of 70.[9] He was buried at a small, low-key funeral attended by half a dozen friends and family.[4]
A month after his death, police were granted £25,000 seized from his home following his March 2003 arrest. However, this was contested by family members who requested to have the money returned. Under the terms of the
Comerford is considered one of Liverpool's first crime bosses and the predecessor to later drug kingpins of the city such as John Haase and Curtis Warren.[10] Comerford's former solicitor Rex Makin said of him: "He was one the most charming criminals I have ever known. His career as a criminal on Merseyside was more colourful than any other in the last half century".[4]
References
- ^ "House of Lords Journal 231 (Session 1997-98)".
- ^ Thomas Anthony Comerford Bill Barnes, Geni.com 22 January 2019 Archived 27 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f Duffy, Tom (28 December 2021). "'Top Cat' the Liverpool 'council flat' drug boss and his extravagant life of crime". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Godfather dead Mark Hookham, Liverpool Echo 11 October 2003 Archived 27 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ From Mr Nice to a laser scientist and 'Cocky Curtis' - meet men who drugged Britain Amanda Killelea Daily Mirror 8 August 2020 Archived 27 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Colombian 'hit' that set off a UK cocaine war Mark Townsend, The Guardian 17 May 2008 Archived 27 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Liverpool: The Hurricane Port Andrew Lees (2013) Archived 28 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Police to seize drug baron's money Mark Hookham, Daily Post 12 November 2003 Archived 27 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Liverpool Echo: Latest Liverpool and Merseyside news, sports and what's on". Archived from the original on 4 July 2004.
- ^ a b Meet Top Cat: 'Godfather' to Liverpool's grafters and 'ketwig bling kings' Tom Duffy, Liverpool Echo 1 January 2020 Archived 28 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine