Kevin Carroll murder trial: Gardeners tell of ‘Gerbil’ guns discovery

A MURDER trial jury has been shown the two handguns used to kill gangland figure Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll.

Ross Monaghan, 30, denies murdering Mr Carroll by gunning him down at the Asda car park in Robroyston, Glasgow, on 13 January, 2010.

The High Court in Glasgow yesterday heard the pistol and “cowboy-style” revolver were found by council workmen who were clearing shrubbery beds behind Coatbridge Library later that same month.

Patrick McAuley, 48, a gardener with North Lanarkshire Council, told advocate depute Iain McSporran, prosecuting, that he found a plastic bag under a pile of bricks beside an ivy bush.

He was asked if he could see the plastic bag containing the two guns before he lifted up the bricks and replied: “No, they were well hidden.”

Mr McAuley said: “At first I just took it for another piece of rubbish, but when I took it out it had extra weight. I shook the bags and two bags fell out.”

The court heard that each of these bags contained a gun.

Fellow worker Alexander Wilson, 42, said the first he knew of the find was when Mr McAuley said: “Al, you’re not going to believe what I’ve found.”

The jury was told that the guns were taken out of the plastic bags they were wrapped in and handed around by all six workmen. Mr Wilson said: “Everybody had a wee look and everybody had a hold of them. They were passed about quite freely. I’d never seen a gun before.” The trial continues.