Tommy Sheridan

October1974 · Tommy Sheridan

More newspaper tittle tattle in the Sunday Herald

Police probe gaps in Sheridan’s telephone records
By Paul Hutcheon
Officials quizzed over billing and email history
Comment
POLICE QUIZZED Holyrood officials last week about Tommy Sheridan's phone records and emails as part of their perjury probe into last year's notorious News Of The World defamation trial.

Holyrood bosses were asked about gaps in the MSP's itemised phone bills that were flagged up during the sensational court case.

Detectives have also questioned the three women who claim to have had affairs with the Glasgow MSP.

advertisementThe police activity is the latest twist in the investigation into whether lies were told during the Sheridan case.

Sheridan, former leader of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP), had sued the tabloid newspaper after it claimed he was an adulterer and a swinger.

Last summer's trial, which gripped the nation with weeks of salacious details, ended with the jury rejecting the paper's claims and awarding the MSP £200,000 in damages. He subsequently left the SSP to form a new left-wing party, Solidarity.

But the trial was marked by contradictory evidence - nearly a dozen of Sheridan's colleagues testified against him - which led to the perjury probe by Lothian and Borders Police.

Officers conducted several interviews with witnesses before Christmas and were recently given the go-ahead by the Crown Office to step up their investigation.

One of the first things the police did was meet Holyrood officials last week to discuss Sheridan's mobile phone records and emails.

In the weeks leading up to last year's trial, the parliament handed over details of Sheridan's phone calls, but officials could only submit incomplete records. Police want the missing itemised bills to gain a full picture of the MSP's call history.

Detectives also used their Holyrood visit to ask IT officials about Sheridan's emails. One theory is that MSPs' emails from as far back as 1999 can be located from the parliament's server.

In a related development, police also questioned court witness Fiona McGuire last week about her evidence during the trial.

McGuire claimed to have had sex with Sheridan over a four-year period, including a five-in-a-bed orgy at a hotel near Aberdeen in late 2000.

These developments mark a gear change in a police investigation many people thought had stalled until the Crown Office recently instructed officers to resume their enquiries.

Other witnesses questioned so far include the two other women who claimed to have had affairs with the MSP - Katrine Trolle and journalist Anvar Khan. In addition, Sheridan's former assistant, Felicity Garvie, as well as SSP member Denise Morton, have also been visited by police.

It is understood that none of the police interviews so far conducted have taken place under caution.

A Scottish parliament spokesman said: "It would not be appropriate for the parliament to comment."

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed: "Enquiries are ongoing in this investigation."

Tommy Sheridan did not return calls last night.

http://www.sundayherald.com/news/...n_sheridans_telephone_records.php

Rinty · j

I dont know if I have ever seen such one sided reporting! The perjury investigation is in to ALL of the witnesses in the court case, its not an investigation of Tommy Sheridan. They always refer to the court case as the "Tommy Sheridan trial" when in fact it was news international who were the accused not Tommy. And now they decribe a perjury investigation in to the whole case as if it is an investigation of Tommy Sheridan.

Cymro

Rinty, are you a bit worried about the fact your leader and the founder of Solidarity is so high profile. IF, News International win their appeal (and it's a big if) then Sheridan is bound to have lost some credibility amongst the electorate - he'l be seen as a liar etc. If this happens this is sure to have a negative effect on the party and the hard work other members put in. Surely this is a real worry with the Scottish Parliament Elections coming up.

Aventinian

I'm amazed. When it's Tommy Sheridan actually being accused of a crime and investigated by the police, it's all tittle-tattle.

But when it's the Prime Minister helping with enquiries and with no suggestion or allegation of having commited a crime, it's like the local gossip has just told an angry yet illiterate mob that a paediatrician has moved into town...

Jimbo

Rinty · h

I think you missed my point.

Tommy is one of several people who are being investigated over evidence they gave in court. Three of them are named in this story. There are no charges anywhere yet, but given that Tommy WON his case and that the complaint to Police was aimed at Colin Fox then it is one-sided to suggest that the perjury investigation is an investigation into Tommy Sheridans evidence.

There was one person who was caught committing perjury whilst in the court! The News of the World Political Editor said that he didnt pay three witnesses but when they "witnesses" announced in court that they had been paid he had to admit he was lying.

A correction to this story is also that there is no missing phone calls that could add to evidence. Tommy requested that the parliament supply the calls and emails records to Murdochs lawyers. The parliament were late doing this and the records were incomplete. The parliament officially apologised for this and admitted liability and the records WERE submitted to Murdochs lawyers ahead of the trial.

Cymro,

I have absolutely no worries, Tommys stock has never been higher and I think that it is unlikely that any perjury charges will emerge and if they do, that others would have far more to fear than Tommy.

IF Convenor

Aventinian

Yes, just to make it clear, I have a niggling suspicion that Tony Blair at least quietly allowed selling of peerages to go on, I'm equally less than certain that Tommy has divulged the whole truth in his matter.

However, my idle musing do not good evidence make. Ditto for anyone else on this board, and yet little asides are often made to the effect that our Prime Minister could have the door to his flat kicked in by the polis tomorrow, which is patently false. Equally Tommy Sheridan did win his libel action and that much should be respected.

Jimbo

Aventinian

Well neither did they, with any degree of accuracy.

It's become quite a stock comment these days whenever the stupidity of the mob is being discussed.

azzuri

I got the joke but that's the first time I've heard it.

You should have kept your gob shut - I was applauding such a witty retort this time... Very Happy