Coolopolis has learned that West End Gang leader Richard "Ritchie" Matticks has died of cancer at the age of 78.
Matticks is considered the leading member of the clan that controlled the illicit entry of drugs into the port.
On Tuesday Matticks was in the hospital surrounded by loved ones and battling against what I'm told is lung cancer, which only started plaguing him badly only over the last few months.
He succumbed early Wednesday morning at 4:30 a.m. .
Matticks was raised in Goose Village in a house full of 14 kids. He went on to work in a variety of jobs, including repairman at the port.
In recent years he has been seen as the co-leader of the Matticks faction of the West End Gang along with brother Gerry, who recently spent several years behind bars.Richard was pre-deceased by brothers Jackie "Smiling Jack" Matticks, a onetime leader who died of natural causes long ago. His son Barney died of heroin in Asia and another brother Fred died in 1981 of natural causes.
Some claim Richard could not read nor write but he was nonetheless considered a savvy operator and some even believe that he accumulated great sums of hidden wealth.
For a while the clan even organized Christmas parades in Point St. Charles.
Attempts to prosecute Matticks often proved counterproductive, as seen in the Matticks affair of the mid-90s when the provincial police were seen as tampering with evidence.
Here's one of countless anecdotes that has been kicking around attesting to influence Matticks maintained. About 15 years ago of his lieutenants John McLean purchased a white SUV but a bureaucratic issue led to the car not being insured.
Of course the SUV was stolen and the Boomerang locating device went dead somewhere in Laval on its way to the chop shop. Richie made a few phone and not only was the SUV returned in perfect condition but all of the Christmas presents in the back were still there when it came back. (McLean later became the family's bete noir but that's a story for another day).