T2 Trainspotting actor shot dead

Author leads tributes to Bradley Welsh

by Amber Wilkinson

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has paid tribute to T2 Trainspotting star Bradley Welsh, who was shot dead in Edinburgh's west end yesterday. Police have confirmed they are treating the shooting as murder.

The 42-year-old actor - who was a former British ABA lightweight boxing champion - played the role of gangland figure Mr Doyle in Danny Boyle's film alongside Ewan McGregor, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner and Johnny Lee Miller in the film.

Writer Welsh said his "heart is broken", he added: "Goodbye my amazing and beautiful friend. Thanks for making me a better person and helping me to see the world in a kinder and wiser way."

Bradley - who also appeared in Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men - has previously spoken about being a Hibs casual in the 1980s, before he left that behind him after a spell in jail at 18.

He was involved in a number of charity projects in the Scottish capital and set up the Holyrood Boxing Gym, which aimed to give kids "the opportunity to use physical fitness to better themselves". He helped raise more than £44,000 for charity in 2014 with a Pads for Charity event and was also involved in food bank collection and involved in the Edinburgh Helping Hands project, which aims to challenge social and economic inequality.

A police spokesman said: "At this time our deepest sympathies are with this man's family and a significant inquiry is now under way to trace everyone who was involved in the murder."

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