Mourners farewell gangland figure George Williams

Mourners have gathered at a Melbourne Church for the memorial service of gangland identity George Williams.

The service, at St Therese’s Parish in Essendon, has been attended by about 60 guests including Roberta Williams, the ex-wife of the William’s notorious son Carl. Roberta arrived the church alongside her daughter, Danielle Stephens.

George Williams died earlier this month from a heart attack at his home in Broadmeadows, aged 69.

He spent the final years of his life fighting a $700,000 unpaid tax bill from the Australian Taxation Office, which was settled just a day before it was due to go to the Supreme Court.

Mr Williams agreed to pay $576,000 which he earlier argued should be paid by Victoria Police.

He was jailed in 2007 for just over four years after pleading guilty to teaming up with his son to smuggle almost five kilograms of amphetamines. He was released on parole in June 2009.

Charges were dropped against him in 1999 after a police raid on his home in 1999, where more than $20 million worth of pills were found.

Son Carl died after being bashed with part of an exercise bike at Barwon Prison by fellow inmate Matthew Johnson in 2010.