For a man reputedly Scotland's most feared and powerful gangster with a fortune some put at £30m it was a modest farewell.

Only the fleet of top-of-the-range 4x4 vehicles with tinted windows ferrying men in ill-fitting suits and black leather jackets differentiated Tam "The Licensee" McGraw's funeral from those immediately before and after.

More than 300 mourners attended at Daldowie Crematorium on Glasgow's eastern outskirts.

Although probably the largest gathering of Glasgow's underworld figures under one roof for many years, to the untrained eye it looked no more than the passing of a stalwart of the local football club rather than someone whose name was a byword for drug-trafficking, money laundering and extortion.

A half-hour before yesterday's service, Mr McGraw's coffin left his fortress home in Mount Vernon. Eight days ago, he suffered a fatal heart attack there aged 55 as his wife Margaret made him tea and toast. Around 80 members of Mr McGraw's family and friends gathered in the house in Carrick Drive for a short servicebefore his coffin was put into the waiting hearse.

Four black Mercedes carrying Margaret, Mr McGraw's son William, grandsons Connor and Rhys, as well as his brothers and close family followed.

As the coffin was brought into Daldowie's East Chapel dozens of Mr McGraw's most trusted lieutenants formed a guard of honour, while Robbie Williams's Angels played inside. The chapel was full, with many mourners forced to stand on the steps leading into the hall to hear the service led by the Rev David Locke.

There were several references to his criminality and fearsome reputation, though Mr Locke attempted to keep these far from the reality of murder and brutality associated with Mr McGraw's reign.

He told how Mr McGraw had attended John Street School in Bridgeton as well as "some other approved education establishments", how in his early life as a bus conductor he made extra money by reselling used tickets and how, when living in London in the 1970s, he would supplement his income through "less official means".

Mr Locke also told how the crime lord was a science fiction fan, fond of Star Wars, Star Trek, Deep Space Nine "and, of course, Doctor Who".

He also told how Mr McGraw enjoyed a snack of brown bread, jam and a Cadbury's Flake. There was even an effort to portray him as a charitable individual, whose enterprises in the Barlanark area of Glasgow benefited the community and who laid on Christmas dinners at his Caravel pub.

Mr Locke added: "Tam had trouble in his life, some of which in the distant past led to him spending time at Her Majesty's convenience.

"But it has also got to be said that most of the other charges against Tam were found to be not proven. So, I for one, cannot judge."