Montreal's West End Gang, the Irish mob, the Gang de l'ouest, has been around for about 60 years, mainly in Point St. Charles and NDG.
  They specialized in truck heists and bank robberies before reaping much larger dollars importing hashish and cocaine into town. They have no code, structure or formal hierarchy.
   Some credibly argue that the gang doesn't really exist.
   Nonetheless they have amused generations with their tales, which range from Robin Hood generosity and gifts to the poor to cold blooded killing.
  Here are some of the icons associated with the WEG title, a group and mainly associated with the areas of Point St. Charles and NDG.
   Some are brilliant, talented, genuine and generous. Some not so much.


1 Frank "Dunie" Ryan Leader. Born 1942. Only child. Dad left when he was three. Grew up near Milton in McGill Ghetto. Chatty and approachable. Known as "mom" as he arranged stolen trucks full of irons and gifted friends cocaine and cash upon de-imprisonment. Convicted of minor B&Es, selling stolen swag. Won appeal of negligence conviction after accidentally running over a vagrant in his Pontiac, a case that left him with a grudge against the justice system. Busted for a bank robbery in 1966. His mother was to bring his $12k bail cash to Boston but someone robbed her. Sentenced to 15 years in an Indiana prison. Freed in 1972. Brokered stolen goods. Minor convictions for theft and assault. Known as a money launderer. Tells crime commission he's a loan shark who buries his cash money underground. Gets into drug importation. Meets with about 40 people a day at the Belvedere Motel bar. Had associate Hughie McGurnaghan killed over money. Charming. Police estimate his wealth at $100 million. Had 300 people working for him. Laval bikers owed him $300k so they plotted to kidnap his kids. Ryan was not pleased. Told bikers their supply is shut. Two bikers are found dead. Problem solved. Hinted that the IRA would go to war for him if required. Always had $500k or more with him. Bars, mostly on St. James W., were his offices until he was killed at Nittolo's on St. James West on Nov. 13, 1984 by Paul April and others over money. Had two kids who grew up to be straight arrows. One out-of-wedlock son Shane Maloney. No consensus exists for the spelling of Dunie, as it was a baby word that stuck.


2 Jackie Matticks Smiling Jack led the Matticks faction of the WEG that controlled contraband shipments to the port thanks to tipoffs from official Kenny Mann. Skilled truck hijacker. Acquitted of the attempted murder of a bookie in the back seat of a car once, as the money-owing target caught witness amnesia. Worked hard days in his job as longshoreman. He could read and write, unlike several of his other 13 siblings. He died at age 55 in 1975 of a brain aneurysm. He was at a bar on Centre (north side four doors east of Shearer) and left to check out a swag garage on Le Ber. He just keeled over and died, leaving a couple of daughters behind. That pic of him as a small kid is the only one we could find.

Mikey Johnston

3 Mikey Johnston One of several brothers who worked as elevator repairmen while not robbing banks and trucks in the 1960s. Mikey engineered a massive security box heist in British Colombia. The gang was only caught after guards noticed them carrying heavy bags at the Vancouver airport. The only one of the six brothers still alive is Eddie, who was a star goaltender for the Boston Bruins and GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins and had no connection to the underworld.Mike was the last of the five gangster brothers to die off at the age of 77 in April 2016.

Keith "Rocky" Pierson

4Keith "Rocky" Pierson The 5'6" Pierson grew up in the area behind Schwartz's Deli and was a boxer before he started fixing elections and robbing banks through clever methods. Acquitted on a murder rap in 1951. Lived in Outremont where he was friendly with cops. Shot some guy dead for threatening his family, felt traumatized by the episode. His family fell apart and his own crew killed him in a splashy affair in Longueuil in 1961.

•  Keith Pierson - local anti hero killed by his own budsMontreal Murders from Keith Pierson to Donald Cote
• Montreal's Top 10 gangland murders: # 6 The hammer death of Rocky Pierson

Allan Ross

5Allan Ross Became de facto leader of the West End Gang after Dunie Ryan was killed at Nittolos in 1984. His first business was to get revenge by delivering a massive bomb to the apartment where the killers were staying in a highrise on De Maisonneuve West of Guy. It was hidden in a VCR. He promised killers Michel Blass and Apache Trudeau $200k and to clear their debts. He didn't have the money so he granted them the right to collect $100k owed to him by the Halifax Hells. The attempt to collect started a war within the Hells that led to six Laval members being killed. Edward Phillips, 41, was also suspected in the murder of Dunie Ryan and was shot dead in a parking lot on Victoria in March 1985. Ross was nailed for drugs in the states and has since been doing diesel therapy, as inmates call the system of being transferred constantly as a means of keeping people from keeping in touch with him.

Gerry Matticks

6 Gerald "Gerry" Matticks Still alive, helped control, with his brothers, a vast drug importation empire at the port. Sentenced in 1992 along with brother Richard to 45 weekends in jail for a truck heist. Escaped a major rap due to police evidence tampering. Convicted of other importation misdeeds soon after. Likes country music and had his own bar for a while. Helped organize Christmas parades in the Point. Not known to be a huge fan of certain visible minorities. Was nailed for drug importation after associates rolled over on him. He felt particularly betrayed by his old friend John McLean. Declared bankruptcy. Grew up in a family of 14 with roots in Goose Village.

McLaughlin

7 Jackie McLaughlin Estimates vary on how many people McLaughlin killed in his role as Dunie Ryan's bodyguard. He was considered a suspect in the murder of biker Mike French, who was said to have committed an awful crime. Other accounts have McLaughlin gunning down a female friend, Cavalier barmaid Carole Monahan, 38, after she witnessed him killing her boyfriend Joseph Ricciardi, 26, in a contract hit in their basement apartment at 2675 des Trinitaires on 6 July 1982.  Another time he shot a guy in the leg for mistreating his own girlfriend in a bar in the Point.  He and his German girlfriend were killed by Noel Winters in New Brunswick who killed himself in prison soon after. 1938-1984.
See: West End Gang assassin - how he was killed

• Did language issues create one of Mtl's worst mass murderers? 

Richie Matticks

9Richard "Ritchie"Matticks The Matticks brothers were street smart longshoremen who masterminded contraband at the port with a combination of discipline, hard work and craftiness. The brothers were not known to visit bars at the same rate as others and if one went on a bender the others would make sure he was brought into line fast. Richie lent money around and would be insulted if someone tried to pay him interest. He enjoyed cooking and lived somewhat off the grid with no phones or devices around. One visitor to his place was asked to guess how much a hockey bag full of cash sitting on his floor contained. It was a lot. He died in Jan 2015 at age 80. See:  Richard Matticks of the West End Gang: dead of cancer 

B. McAllister

10 Billy McAllister Now in his mid-70s, longtime bank robber lives in rural Quebec after spending almost all of his life in prison for bank robberies after his first arrests in the late 1960s. Shootout with cops alongside Paul April in a Drummondville bank heist left an officer paralyze in 1970. Was freed from 1980 to 1986 but then got in hot water for attempting to import guns and cocaine. Kept in prison until well after the year 2000. Was wealthy for a while but borrowers didn't always pay him back and it was hard for him to collect while in jail. Great looking head of hair, very strong in the hair department.

Hughie McGurnaghan

11Hugh "Hughie" McGurnaghan Clashed with newly-released leader Dunie Ryan as he rebuffed demands to pay a debt. Ryan hired biker bomb expert Yves "Apache" Trudeau to settle the case and McGurhaghan was blown up by a car bomb while driving near Westmount Park in October 1981. Had several brothers, one of whom was also killed.

Dickie Lavoie

12 Dickie Lavoie Assassination specialist who described killing someone as "taking out the trash." One of his tricks was to carry a paper bag with a big knife concealed inside. He'd stab the unsuspecting victim without even taking the knife from the bag. Once sat next to Billy Fraser at the Blue Top Lounge and asked to see his gun and then shot dead him with it. Did hard time in the States before coming to Montreal at an advanced age. Split from his wife and lived in a small apartment upstairs from what's now Goldie's on St. James. Killed a guy over a woman once. Had many devoted friends who held parties for him. Received relatively short prison sentences.

Shane Maloney

 13 Shane Maloney B. 972. Dunie Ryan's love child with the lovely Sandra Maloney who tender bar at the Cavalier bar on St. James. Arrested Thursday Nov. 1, 2012 on a big drug sweep of Montreal. Paralyzed after crashing a snowmobile in British Columbia in around 1997. Accused of getting friends to beat up a Montreal police officer for taking his photo in Mexico. Likes pit bulls. Said to be generous and polite.  See: Shane Maloney's West End Gang lineage 

Campbell Ashton

14 Campbell Ashton Prolific bank robbery who once robbed four in a single day. Finally shot dead by police on Jan. 4 1962 after robbing a bank on Beaubien. Ashton had $100,000 from his past robberies, so he wasn't doing it because he needed the money. He did it for the thrill and the greed. This collage pic is of his real head on another person's body.
See: Campbell Ashton - Montreal's epic bank robber

Livsey

15Harry Livsey (Lepsky) Bank robber who owned the Fort du Nord strip club on Chabanel. Once acquitted after carrying a massive amount of TNT to crowded Expo '67. He claimed it was for landscaping purposes at his home although it was likely to create a explosive diversion for a bank robbery elsewhere. Killed by Paul April at the bar on 12 Feb. 1969. Livsey had kicked April out for fondling a dancer. See: Lest we forget Harry Livsey

Danny Pelansky

16 Danny Pelansky Gangster hustler survived many murder attempts. Word got out that he killed Mafioso Giacomo Pocetti. A few days later "One a Day" as he was known, was blown up by a remote bomb lodged in his 1968 Buick rolling down the Met in Montreal. He died at age 31 on 17 July 1970. Theodore Aboud told a crime commission that Pelansky was dishonourable, as he shortchanged people on debts.   See: The golden age of Montreal car bombings

17Richard "Ricky" Griffin NDG resident sought to establish deeper ties with the Mafia, with whom he had dealings. Flashy dresser. Ambitious. One friend said he went "gangster crazy." Shot dead in 2006 due to a debt. Killed by the Mafia. Had been trying to import cocaine at the time.

MacDonald

18James MacDonald Truck hijacker. Was irritated with truck heist partner Eric McNally for failing to fairly distribute loot so MacDonald killed McNally and his girlfriend Susan Clark at their Pierrefonds home according to Theodore Aboud's testimony. Tough guy. Truck heists. Sold guns. Wiped out while sitting at the Cat's Den on Guy, now known as Andrew's Pub, in March 1969. See: Murder at Andrew's Pub - who did it?

McNall

19Eric McNally Said to have killed a guy in Boston. Ripped off his truck theft friends and stayed inside his home to ensure his own safety. Had some legit business interests. Police suspected him of a bank robbery and an assault on a taxi driver. Was killed with his girlfriend Susan Clark at his home on Gouin in Pierrefonds on 22 April 1968.

20James Ashton Born 1950. Busted for 17 hold ups when he was 19, just as he was going to announce his engagement to a beautiful young woman. Idolized his dad who was also a prolific bank robber. Sentenced to seven years. Released on parole in April was back inside fast after committing a dozen armed robberies in Montreal and Westmount. Shot at four people in one bank heist. Escaped prison August 1972 and captured in BC. A nice guy to those who know him.

Ricky McGurnaghan murder

21 Richard McGurnaghan Hughie's brother, was shot in the head at the Olympic Tavern on Wellington Point St. Charles on March 18, 1991
possibly as punishment for cutting Alan Ross in the face with a broken bottle. Ross had, according to a report, provoked him by telling him that he might end up dead like his brother if he didn't behave. McGurnaghan owned the bar. Pakistani immigrants had purchased the bar as part of an immigration investor program but were overwhelmed by the unruliness so they sold it.

Frank Ward Sr

22Frank Ward Sr. From the Point. Bank robber. Sentenced to death for murder in 1959. It was commuted. His son also made the list.

Earl Poirier

28 Billy Morgan Top safecracker through the 1960s and 1970s. Spent his days at various west end bars like the Cavalier. Was interviewed by Darcy O'Connor for his book.

Frank Ward Jr.

29 Frank Ward Jr. Hung around Smitty's on Shebrooke and Cavendish. (Police had a wiretap on the phone at the bar for a couple of years. If anybody knows how to find the transcripts please let us know!) Son of a killer. Raised in foster homes. Taunted by other kids. Killed a giant-sized bouncer named Tomlinson at a club on DeMaisonnevue near Crescent in 1985. The bouncer turfed him out for carrying a knife into the bar. Ward, drunk, shot him in the head. (One version suggests that the bouncer enraged Ward by holding his head in the toilet but that's not confirmed.) Recently paroled. Now old. Told a student journalist that he regrets his crimes.

Calderwood

30 George Calderwood Participated in at least one bank robbery in Montreal. Owned the Blue Top Restaurant on St. James near Cavendish. Was killed while walking a few blocks west of his place. Crime likely committed by John Slawvey. Calderwood had barred Slawvey from his establishment for misebehavior but there might have been deeper friction. Said to be a good guy. See: The murder of George Calderwood

April

31 Paul April Married into the WEG and ended up killing Dunie Ryan. Died with three others when a VCR bomb sent by Alan Ross exploded at 1645 De Maisonneuve W. apt 1645.

Cooney

32Larry Cooney Bouncer at the Do Drop In on Wellington in the 1990s. Various episodes. Solid beard. Born around 1970.







33Peter White Dunie Ryan's cousin. Did time for marijuana importation. Grizzled Boston-connected guy whose girlfriend owned Maz bar for many years on Sherbrooke near NDG Park. Son Peter Jr. played 200 plus games in the NHL.

McLean

34 John McLean Close to Matticks clan. They felt he betrayed them when he cooperated with prosecutions in the Gerry Matticks trial around 1997. No longer lives in Montreal.

Diamond

35 Roddy Diamond Ran for mayor of Verdun in 1973 and got 1,400 votes against 12,000 for the winner. Outspoken about English language rights. Involved in a LaSalle shooting but was cleared of suspicion.




Others:
Donald Matticks Son of Gerry Matticks sentenced to eight years for cocaine and hashish

Donald Matticks

importation in 2005. b. 1963.
Johnny McGuire 1929-1984. Shylock. Rosemount. Brothers Gerry, Paddy, Richard et al. Boxer. Grew up fighting with the Bouchards, who went on to become cops. Did a heist at a Coca Cola plant. Once threatened a guy with a chainsaw he had rigged not to work. Owned action in many bars, mainly PJ's on Peel. Married a relative of Harry Ship. Said to have given Charlie Chase a good beating with a baseball bat at Chez Paree for trying to pimp out dancers. Seen more as a businessman than a thug. Would love a photo.

Raymond Desfosses

Raymond Desfosses Alan Ross's right hand man. Lived in Three Rivers. Accused of murdering David Singer in Florida.

Donald Driver Born around 1942, good friend of Gerry Matticks. Sentenced to eight years for importing drugs in 2005

John Griffin

John Griffin Convicted of killing debtor Denis Poirier in 2003. Currently in prison.

David "Abie" Johnston Little is known about him other than that he recently died and liked to golf and was friends with Bobby Orr. Not all of these people are bad people folks, so get over your prejudices.

Abie Johnston

Dougie Nemo looked like a school boy but was a killer who ran a crew and likely did contract hits for Dunie Ryan. Had some wealth, owned a Rolls Royce but lost his money and health and died of a massive heart attack.

Nemo

David Singer, believed to have killed Edward Phillips in 1985. He was found two months later dead in Florida, perhaps because he knew too much.

Shayne

Rory Shayne German-born copter bank heist introvert oddball, not WEG but was best pals with Peter Fryer in prison.Sentenced to life in prison for pulling a 100 mm long .22 calibre Italian made gun on a judge in 1981. An expert said it could kill someone within 20 feet. For a while lived at 6255 de Bellefueille St. Leonard.

Cody and Jamie Larramee

Cody Larramee Friends with Richard Matticks. Killed in a LaSalle bar in 2013 at age 25.
Jamie Larrammee was 37 when shot dead in the Nite Lite bar on Newman in LaSalle in 2013.
Peter Fryer Now lives out west. Has written about his life in the mileu. Claims he helped steal Brother Andre's heart from the St. Joseph's Oratory.
George McAllister, Eldest of the McAllister brothers. Involved in bank robberies. Died young.
Ken McPolland, brother of Edward "Crazy Eddie" McPolland
Tommy O'Neill b. 1944, brother Eddy O'Neill, b. 1941, and Danny Sullivan b. 1942 were accused of taking part in an attack on a police officer Kevin McGarr at Molly McGuire's bar at Closse and St. Catherine in early May 1976. Someone had tried to run him down outside of Nittolo's and also rigged a gun to shoot his partner Ross Trudel at a bar called Little Club on Bishop.

Kato McGuire

Brian "Kato" McGuire Serving time for his involvement in the McDonald's double murder in 2010, even though he was not directly involved in the affair. Has a brother known as "Brother" who is also serving time.

James Fryer

 James Alexander Fryer From LaSalle. Found dead at 28, shot in the head, along with Russel Howie Oct. 1, 1968 in a trunk of a torched car outside of 9200 Meilleur.
Gary Snor Robber who came up from the States. Found dead in the fall of 1968.
Frank Pretula Seen by some as 1950s progenitor of the WEG.
Ernie Nittolo Best buds with Dunie Ryan. They'd chase young ladies together. Still alive. Not a criminal as far as we know.
Carl "Porky" McGurnahan diabetic. Brothers Patrick, Ricky, John were among the 10 kids raised by single mother Mary.
George Groom Found dead 29 Sept. 1968 near Ormstown.

Murray Jones

Murray Jones Thief. Armed robber, particularly active in 1965. Did 15 years in prison. Robbed a cabbie. Married to Susan McGurnaghan of the 10-kid clan from the Point. At age 40 chose to kill himself rather than get re-arrested for theft at his friend Emitt Killen's place at 01126 Richmond on 28 Jan. 1981.

Connerney

John Connearney aka John David Skylar Sentenced to life in prison in the United States for murdering a fellow inmate. Fled prison and came to live in Montreal in 1962 at the age of 25. Lived under the radar in NDG until he killed police officer Richard Larente June 14, 1973 in LaSalle. Sentenced to hang. Commuted. Killed in Laval prison riot a few years later.
Peter McManus Worked with John Slawvey in the early days. Liked guns. Single father of Mike McManus, noted boxer and stand-up guy who survived a seven bullet shooting at the Palomino on Wellington. Now religious.

Richardson

Bryce Richardson Drug dealer. Killed boxer Robert Crowen, 31, at 4311 Old Orchard in 1968 and dumped the body in a river. Girlfriend Aline Giguere Brochu, 30, was a witness in court. Shot Elwood Marsman at the Hawaiian Lounge two years earlier. Richardson managed the Lune Rousse at 1432 Stanley. Had a brother named James. One of the Dubois clan shot him at Harlem Paradise at 772 Mountain in April 1967. He was either confined to a wheelchair or walked with a cane after that, depending which version you prefer.
Steve Johnston Lots of sports betting. Arrested in 1976 for illegal sports gambing with Peter Skylar and Fred McCarthy back when Johnston lived in the tower at Claremont and St. Catherine. The scam? They'd exploit the different odds given out in different cities. Gamblers tend to bet on the teams from their own cities. This ring exploited those variations.