Notorious Mongrel Mob man dies

One of the country's most notorious Mongrel Mob members, James Triple M Ford, has died in Middlemore Hospital while on bail for firearm charges.

Ford, who is also known as "Littleman", died this week after being unwell for some time.

It is understood his body is now in the care of fellow Mob members, who have taken him to the Youth Justice Residential Centre in South Auckland where a relative is serving time.

A source told the Herald about 150 members turned up at the centre on Wednesday night with Ford's body in a van and asked to see the relative.

There were reports the relative was allowed to spend about 20 minutes with the body.

The source said the Mob members returned to the centre again yesterday morning wanting the relative to be allowed out to attend the tangi.

No comment was available from the centre last night.

A Child Youth and Family spokeswoman said it was not uncommon for people to be allowed out of custody to attend funerals of close relatives, as long as it was planned they were escorted there.

Ford, who was in his mid 40s, is believed to have changed his name many years ago from his original name of James Waddell. His middle name, Triple M, stands for Mighty Mongrel Mob.

Ford was well known by police in the Wairarapa, where he was the leader of the Mob, and in the Bay of Plenty, Hastings and Waikato areas.

Last year he appeared in court on nine charges, including threatening to kill, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnapping and assault.

Ford was alleged to have shot a man in the back of his knee, shattering the kneecap, before telling two of his sons and a nephew to finish the injured man off. They refused and the man survived.

A jury acquitted Ford of the charges relating to that incident but a retrial was ordered on some other firearm-related incidents.

He was on bail awaiting that trial when he died.