Tommy Comerford

Thomas Anthony "Tommy" Comerford (died October 2003), also known as "Tacker" and "Top Cat", was an English gangster. A longtime figure in Liverpool's underworld, Comerford dominated criminal activity in the Merseyside area, spending over 34 years in prison during the course of his criminal career. He was involved in narcotics, and was one of the first criminals to establish an international drug trafficking network in England.

Criminal career Comerford worked as a truck driver on the Liverpool docks and was also a petty criminal and thief before becoming involved in armed robbery. He was reportedly responsible for stopping the Kray twins from moving in on the city's rackets in the 1960s.

In August 1969, Comerford was part of a gang of robbers from the north of Liverpool who spent a bank holiday weekend tunnelling into a branch of the District Bank on Water Street in Liverpool city centre, using a thermal lance to open the safe and stealing over £140,000 in cash and £20,000 in property. Comerford allegedly gave a cigarette case which had been stolen during the break-in to his barrister, who later offered a senior police detective a cigarette from the case during a boxing match at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel. The detective reportedly recognised the case as being stolen from the bank, leading to the arrests of Comerford and the other robbers. In December 1970, Comerford was convicted of burglary and sentenced to ten years in prison. This was his second criminal conviction. The "Liverpool Mafia" gained strength by brokering a strategic alliance with young black gangs following the 1981 Toxteth riots, and became the richest crime group in the United Kingdom. Comerford recruited a gang, which included four dockers, to collect a consignment of cannabis from North Africa. The plot was discovered by the Merseyside Police drug squad, however, and he and his associates were arrested following a stakeout. Comerford was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court, although his sentence was reduced to four years' upon appeal. Despite his wealth, Comerford was granted a council flat on Lee Vale Road and regular benefit payments from the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS). At the same time, he was living in a luxury bungalow on Station Road in Gateacre.

Death Comerford was diagnosed with liver cancer in August 2003, He was buried at a small, low-key funeral attended by half a dozen friends and family.

Comerford is considered one of Liverpool's first crime bosses and the predecessor to later drug kingpins of the city such as John Haase and Curtis Warren. Comerford's former solicitor Rex Makin said of him: "He was one the most charming criminals I have ever known. His career as a criminal on Merseyside was more colourful than any other in the last half century".