Sleepy Scottish town rocked by Godfather-style vendettas with dead deer left rotting on boat club doorstep
- Terrified West Wemyss locals fear they are being targeted in a vicious vendetta
- Village leaders warned that a feud over fishing rights was ‘utterly out of control’
It used to be a sleepy fishing village, complete with picture-postcard harbour and a boating club.
But terrified locals in West Wemyss fear they are being targeted in a vicious vendetta worthy of classic gangster movie The Godfather.
Village leaders yesterday warned that a feud over fishing rights had become ‘utterly out of control’ and it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt.
In the latest incident to shock the Fife community of around 300, a dead deer was dumped on the doorstep of a boat club.
Terrified locals in West Wemyss fear they are being targeted in a vicious vendetta worthy of classic gangster movie The Godfather
In the latest incident to shock the Fife community of around 300, a dead deer was dumped on the doorstep of a boat club
Labour councillor Tom Adams compared the sinister gesture to a scene in the Hollywood blockbuster starring Al Pacino (pictured) when a horse’s head is placed in a bed as an intimidation tactic
Village leaders yesterday warned that a feud over fishing rights had become ‘utterly out of control’ and it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt
Labour councillor Tom Adams compared the sinister gesture to a scene in the Hollywood blockbuster starring Al Pacino when a horse’s head is placed in a bed as an intimidation tactic.
Not long after alarmed members of West Wemyss Boat Club removed the bloody and rotting carcass, the building was set alight and badly damaged.
There have since been three other fires in the area, which residents believe are linked to a ‘vendetta’ over illegal fishing.
Mr Adams said the events were totally out of character for the pretty village, adding that locals were now scared about where things will ‘go next’.
He said: ‘People are frightened. It’s like something from The Godfather, if you remember that scene with the horse’s head.
‘This is a nice, cosy village and to have such animosity running through it is very concerning and it needs to be stopped.
‘There are empty houses nearby, people are worried if that’s where it will go next. Nobody wants confrontation but if it carries on, it’s not a case of if someone gets hurt but when.’
Mr Adams added: ‘My understanding is there has been some dispute amongst the fishermen from different ports over lobster creels, with them possibly being cut.’
Boat club member Bill Adams, 69, pictured, passed by the boat club as the deer was being removed
Pictured: The double doors at West Wemyss Boat Club where the dead deer was dumped
Not long after alarmed members of West Wemyss Boat Club removed the bloody and rotting carcass, the building was set alight and badly damaged
There have since been three other fires in the area, which residents believe are linked to a ‘vendetta’ over illegal fishing. Pictured: The boat club’s old club house
The incident involving the deer was the third time the clubhouse had been targeted in the past year.
One local fisherman, who did not want to be named, described seeing the dumped deer carcass.
He said: ‘It looked to me like roadkill, it hadn’t been shot. It was lying outside the double doors. This is normally a nice, normal haven, but not now.
‘The situation is utterly out of control. We’re joking about it being like The Godfather but it’s serious stuff. There have been two fires at the boat club and three along the way at Chapel Gardens, it’s definitely linked.
‘There have been problems with illegal fishing in the area and now some people have a bit of a vendetta against the club.
‘Marine Scotland have been down a few times about it.’
Boat club member Bill Adams, 69, passed by the boat club as the deer was being removed.
He said: ‘Whoever did it had moved it there, like something out of The Godfather. There are a few grievances with members at the boat club, but they reckon it is something to do with people fishing without a licence.
The incident involving the deer was the third time the clubhouse (pictured) had been targeted in the past year
Police Scotland confirmed that the most recent blaze is being investigated
‘The club can’t prove they don’t have one though, so there has been a bit of back and forth but nobody really knows what is going on.’
Police Scotland confirmed that the most recent blaze is being investigated.
A spokesman said: ‘Around 6.05am on Tuesday, June 13, we were made aware of a fire in a derelict building in Chapel Gardens, West Wemyss.
‘It is being treated as wilful and inquiries are ongoing.’
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