Unveiling the chilling saga of Stephen ‘Boom Boom’ McColl – a feared hitman, police informant, and undertaker who left a trail of tragedy in Greater Manchester. Originally hailing from Glasgow’s gritty streets, McColl’s blood-curdling nickname stemmed from his poor eyesight, echoing the bumbling Mr Magoo. But this was no cartoon character.
McColl’s dark journey saw him evolve from an armed robber to a paid informant for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), all while concealing his true nature as a killer. His history of violence began with the unsolved drive-by murder of Ralph Sprott in Clydebank, where McColl was first questioned by police.
Fast forward to Christmas 2003, when the gruesome discovery of Philip Noakes’ mutilated body in Worsley Woods put McColl in the spotlight. Known for getting his hands dirty in Salford’s criminal underworld, Boom Boom had become an undertaker’s assistant, a fitting guise for the perverse interests in death he harboured.
Noakes wasn’t McColl’s only victim. Michael Doran, a fellow informant and aspiring criminal, disappeared without a trace after McColl suspected betrayal. Police believe McColl used his morbid skills from the funeral home to dispose of Doran’s body.
Despite warnings from Scottish police, GMP failed to halt McColl’s reign of terror. It wasn’t until crucial forensic evidence linked back to him that justice was finally served. In 2006, McColl stood trial, his sentencing to a rare whole life term reflecting the gravity of his crimes.
The case not only highlighted police informant management failures but also left grieving families behind. Philip Noakes’ mother remembers him as a devoted father, while Michael Doran’s mother recalled his flawed yet loyal nature.
This macabre tale serves as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking within the shadows of crime and the devastating consequences when warnings go ignored.