"A revelation that gives hope to Tommy Sheridan"

Bob Bird, Scottish Editor of the News of the World

The Independent has a Piece today, written by Cahal Milmo and Martin Hickman, on the news we linked to yesterday that the News of the World had recovered emails that the court in the Sheridan trial was told by Bob Bird had been "lost." (see Here for our report on that section of Mr Bird's testimony)  The article states; "News International now says Mr Bird unintentionally misled the court, but insists that all the emails sought by the defence were disclosed to it either by the newspaper or the police. Sheridan's legal team suspects that more information should have been disclosed, and plans to launch an appeal in the hope of springing Sheridan from Barlinnie jail, where he has begun a three-Year Jail term"

News International finds 'lost' emails

The Indpendent is Reporting "A "lost" hoard of emails sent by senior executives in Rupert Murdoch's newspaper empire at the height of the phone-hacking scandal has been found " The claim that emails had been lost was made by the News of the World's Scotland editor Bob Bird during the perjury trial of the former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan in November. Giving evidence on oath, he said that many emails sought by the defence had gone missing while being transferred to India " (our reports about Mr Bird's testimony on this  issue can be viewed Here and Here )


The piece continues

Sheridan solicitor: "newspaper hacked my phone messages"

The Scottish Herald is reporting this morning that Tommy Sheridan's lawyer Aamer Anwar is planning to make a complaint to the police tomorrow alleging that the the News Of The World tried to "hack" his mobile phone. The article states; "The solicitor, who represented Tommy Sheridan during his perjury trial, said he was contacted by Vodafone shortly before the court case began last year, warned that there had been an attempt to access his messages and told he should change his PIN number.

You can read the full article Here

Tommy Sheridan's Statement on his Imprisonment

This was posted on Tommy Sheridan's Blog yesterday:

Comrades,

By the time you read this I will be a guest of the Crown.  Despite a tremendous fight against the combined forces of the state and the Murdoch empire, we have lost this round.  But the fight isn’t over yet.

Though I have been in jail before, this time will be tougher because I will be separated from my family.  But my plight is nothing compared to the families blown apart and torn apart by the horrors of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I have friends whose husbands, sons and fathers have to go to fight wars in these places, some of them never return.  My family’s troubles do not compare to the loss these people face.
 

"The women who refused to lie for Tommy Sheridan"

Photograph by Murdo MacLeod

This morning The Guardian has published an article by Julie Bindel which contains quotes from Crown witnesses in the case,  Barbara Scott, Carolyn Leckie, Pam Currie, Catriona Grant Rosie Kane and Katrine Trolle.  You can read the full piece Here

Meanwhile the Scotsman is reporting that they have obtained  "a copy of a letter from the Defend Tommy Sheridan campaign to the First Minister, demanding a probe into the "role, conduct and performance" of Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini in pursuing the case against the left-winger." That article is Here

Finally the Scottish Sun Newspaper has ran three stories that appear to have been based on interviews with Tony Cumberbirch these can be found Here. Mr Cumberbirtches testimony at the trial can be viewed Here

BBC Scotland Yesterday

We thought people outside Scotland may be interested to view two BBC Scotland discussions about the sentencing of Tommy Sheridan. The first is from "The Politics Show" broadcast yesterday afternoon where Gregor Gall, John Curtice and myself discuss the implications of the trial for the Scottish Left. That debate begins 31.30 minutes into the Programme.


The second link is from yesterday evening's  Newsnight Scotland where there is an interview with Mr Sheridan's lawyer Aamer Anwar.  George Galloway and two witnesses from the trial, Francis Curran and Phillip Stott also discuss the outcome of the case and it's political implications. You can view the full programme Here

Kenneth Roy and Ian Mcwhirter

Two of the best known Scottish political journalists, Kenneth Roy and Ian Macwhiter have articles published on the Sheridan case this morning that we thought may be of interest


Ian Macwhirter Writes 
"This whole episode has been a farce - and an expensive one for the tax payers who have to pay most of the costs of the police investigation and the trial.     Even the sentence was a joke. Sheridan will spent a year or so in Castle Huntly open prison, burnishing his anti-establishment image,  then he’ll be back on the streets again, surrounded by cheering admirers.   He will use his time in prison wisely, no doubt writing his memoirs - which is how disgraced politicians traditionally use such enforced leisure - and campaigning for penal reform.  He may even be back on the campaign trail for the Holyrood elections in 2015.  Well, why not?   There is nothing to prevent a convicted criminal, even one who lied under oath, from standing for parliament after he has paid his debt to society."  

Gail Sheridan "Not standing in Holyrood elections"

The Guardian's Scottish correspondent, Severin Carrell, has just reported, via Twitter, that Gail Sheridan has confirmed she will not be standing as a candidate in the 2011 Holyrood elections. More information to come when we get it.


Update 1pm
BBC Scotland's Raymond Buchanan has confirmed the story and has this  quote from Gail Sheridan "I would have welcomed the challenge" of Holyrood but priority is caring for young daughter now husband in jail.

The Trials of Tommy

BBC Radio Scotland yesterday broadcast a thirty minute  programme, "The Trials of Tommy" which has actors recreating key parts of the trial. This can be heard Here 


The three commentators on the case are Raymond Buchanan of the BBC, Alison Campsie of the Herald and myself,

Tommy Sheridan Mitigation Speech in Full

The BBC have posted a full transcript of Tommy Sheridan's speech of mitigation.

It can be found Here

Tommy Sheridan's Statement in Mitigation Summary

As court resumed this morningm  Lord Bracadale,  the presiding judge in the trial of Her Majesties Advocate Vs Thomas Sheridan,  warned those attending  not to engage in any "inappropriate behavior," Tommy Sheridan rose from his seat in the dock of court number four to begin his plea in mitigation.


Mr Sheridan began by thanking the court workers, including the canteen staff, for their assistance in what had been a "long trial." Mr Sheridan  then told the court that he "recognised the jury had carried out a difficult task" in a case that was "long and arduous." He then stated that the court would be aware "by fair means or foul" that he had been convicted by "the narrowest of majorities." adding that while he agreed that perjury was a serious crime that "strikes at the heart of justice" it was important to look at the context in which he brought his case against the News of the World.

Scottish Television Interview with Tommy Sheridan

Bernard Ponsonby

Shortly before his sentencing Tommy Sheridan conducted an interview with Scottish Television's Bernard Ponsonby


The full video of that interview can be viewed Here

Sheridan vows to fight conviction

Via the Press Association

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/disgraced-tommy-sheridan-jailed-for-three-years-2194651.html

Disgraced socialist politician Tommy Sheridan vowed to keep fighting as he was jailed for three years for perjury.

The former MSP described his punishment for lying to the courts during his successful defamation action against the News of the World in 2006 as "heartbreaking".
After being sentenced, he announced his intention to appeal against his conviction.
In a statement read outside court by his solicitor, Aamer Anwar, he said: "This multi-million pound prosecution will separate me from my wife and child and that will be heartbreaking. But I will continue to fight a system that protects the real criminals - the rich and powerful."
After a three-month trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Sheridan, 46, was found guilty in December of lying about the newspaper's claims that he was an adulterer who visited swingers' clubs.

News of the World Statement on Sentence

"This is a just outcome to a long and complex criminal case. Today's sentence also provides closure for the many witnesses who very bravely exposed their own lives to public scrutiny when they testified to Mr Sheridan's guilt.

"Mr Sheridan has been jailed for lying to a court to secure victory when he sued the News of the World for defamation in 2006. At the time he was an elected member of the Scottish Parliament. As we have made clear, we have an appeal lodged against that defamation verdict and we now look forward to that appeal succeeding in Scotland's Court of Session."

Scottish Socialist Party Statement on Sentence

The Scottish Socialist Party has now issued a statement on the sentencing of Tommy Sheridan.


"Today's proceedings at Glasgow High Court finally end the ill advised action Tommy Sheridan initiated 6 years ago in suing a tabloid over allegations he knew to be true. The jury found him guilty and the court has now passed sentence.

He alone is responsible for where he sleeps tonight, no one else.

He pursued legal action full in the knowledge he would lie in court. He asked his closest political allies and friends to join him in that crazy strategy and then turned on us because we refused. He still shows no sign of taking responsibility for his own actions.

More widely this affair is a stark warning of the dangers of allowing personal celebrity to displace political principles.

Solidarity Statement on Sentence

"Scottish justice has notched up another political miscarriage of justice alongside that of Al Megrahi and Muir of Huntershill”

Ian Hamilton QC

Solidarity condemns as barbaric and draconian the sentence imposed today on Tommy Sheridan.

We believe the lengthy jail term imposed by the judge is vindictive. It will reinforce the widespread view that this is the culmination of a brutal vendetta carried out by the rich and powerful against Scotland ’ most prominent socialist. A socialist who has earned their hatred for his uncompromising defence of working class people for the last 25 years.

Tommy Sheridan sentenced to Three Years in Prison

Lord Bracdale

After hearing Tommy Sheridan's plea in mitigation, about which a full report will be posted later today, the presiding judge Lord Bracadale sentenced Mr Sheridan to three years in prison. 

Lord Bracadale stated that Mr Sheridan was a "highly effective and hard working politician" and that he had "supported individuals in the community both in parliament and in the street," However the judge added that by pursuing a defamation action against the News of the World Mr Sheridan had "brought the walls of the temple crashing down not only on your own head but also on the heads of your family and your political friends alike."


You can read Lord Bracadale's full statement Here

More to follow.

Sentencing

Tomorrow morning, 26 January 2011, will see the trial of Her Majesty's Advocate v Thomas Sheridan reconvene for sentencing after the jury returned a majority verdict of guilty against Mr Sheridan on the 23rd December last year. Mr Sheridan will deliver a plea in mitigation before we hear the sentence and the judge's statement. Lord Bracadale has advised Mr Sheridan to expect to be sent to prison.


As we have a great deal of preparation to do before tomorrow we will be closing comments until after the conclusion of tomorrow's proceedings. 

Operation Caryatid

With the resignation of Andrew Coulson over alleged "phone hacking" at the News of the World during his editorship of the paper, political and media attention is now turning to the Metropolitan Police investigation of the case ( for example see Here )


During the trial of Tommy Sheridan, the High Court of Glasgow heard testimony from the Senior Investigating Officer on the inquiry, Detective Chief Superintendent Phil Williams. Given the interest in this issue we thought readers would be interested in a summary of DCS Williams' evidence in response to questions from Mr Sheridan, who was representing himself

For background Mr Sheridan was exploring the issue as his name and details had been found in a notebook belonging to Glen Mulcaire, who was later convicted for illegally accessing voicemails,. Mr Mulcaire was later cited as a witness in the case but was excused due to illness.

Scottish Newspaper Roundup

As many of our readers are not in Scotland I thought it would be useful to round up some articles from the Scottish press relating the trial that have appeared this weekend.


The Daily Record has this story, "Tommy Sheridan trial provoked resignation of top spin doctor Andy Coulson" Which quotes an "insider"as saying of Andy Coulson's resignation  "having to give evidence at the Sheridan trial was the tipping point for Coulson, adding  "He had to take a week off before Christmas to prepare and give evidence in the Tommy Sheridan trial and was then being filmed and photographed arriving and leaving the court. He was right at the centre of the story instead of trying to manage it and he knew then that he had to go."

Andy Coulson's Testimony, Key Points

In the light of today's news of Andy Coulson's resignation (see Here ) We thought that readers might like to read an summary of Mr Coulson's answers to some of the key questions put to him during the Sheridan trial about his knowledge of "phone hacking" during his time as editor of the News of the World.


On his resignation as editor of the News of the World
Mr Coulson told the court that he had left after one reporter on the paper was convicted of a crime and he had "taken the ultimate responsibility and stepped down."  Asked what this crime was the witness stated that it involved "illegal phone hacking" and that he had "no knowledge of it."

Andrew Coulson Resigns

Andy Coulson outside Glasgow High Court

Andy Coulson, a witness in the trial of HMA vs Gail and Thomas Sheridan has resigned from his role as Director of Communications at 10 Downing street. In his statement he gives the reason for stepping down as "Unfortunately, continued coverage of events connected to my old job at the News of the World has made it difficult for me to give the 110% needed in this role.


As regular readers will be aware Mr Coulson was called by the defence to answer allegations that a private investigator, Greg Mulcaire, hacked into Mr Sheridan's telephone answering service in 2006, the evidence for this being a notebook belonging to Mr Mulcaire which contained Mr Sheridan's personal details including his mobile telephone number and what appeared to be a "PIN" number used to access voicemail. Mr Coulson denied any knowledge of this or of the defence's contention that Mr Mulcaire had an "exclusive contract" with the News of the World while Mr Coulson was the newspaper's editor.

Tommy and Gail Sheridan to "Sue Police"

The Scottish Daily Record and the Scottish Herald are reporting this morning that lawyers for Gail and Tommy Sheridan have written to Lothian and Borders Chief Constable David Strang and Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, to lodge formal complaints over the broadcast of footage of their police interviews by the BBC. There is also to be a complaint to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom over BBC's transmit ion of the video.


A separate complaint from Mrs Sheridan relates to the conduct of her police interview where a set of rosary beads were removed from her possession and also that, her lawyers state, "she was subjected to certain questioning because she was a Roman Catholic." Mrs Sheridan has also claimed that a charge of theft brought against her after a police raid in her home was malicious.

Tommy Sheridan nominated for "Scot of the Year"

Scottish Television News is reporting that Tommy Sheridan has been shortlisted for "Scot of the Year" in a competition run by a charity ScotsCare, "for showing his fighting spirit"; 
"Sheridan was named as one of 12 original finalists of the annual contest at the beginning of December while his trial was ongoing. He made the shortlist after suggestions from supporters of the charity and people who the charity helps.

Now, the former Scottish Socialist Party leader - after attracting votes - has been named in the top five, beating seven other celebrities"

A full list of candidates for the award can be found Here

News of the World "Rogue reporter' defence unravels"

Glenn Mulcaire

The Guardian is Reporting that Glenn Mulcaire, the convicted "phone hacker" who was called as a witness at the trial of HMA vs Tommy Sheridan (but did not appear due to illness)  has submitted a statement to the High Court in London "confirming that Ian Edmondson, the paper's assistant editor (news) asked him to hack into voicemail messages left on a mobile phone belonging to  Sky Andrew, a football agent."   The Guardian piece  continues " It is also understood that Mulcaire said in the court statement that several other executives at the News of the World were aware that phone hacking was taking place, although he does not name them."

Gail Sheridan to stand for Scottish parliament

Reports are emerging this morning that Gail Sheridan is planning to run for the Scottish parliament at next May's election. The Herald Reports that no formal announcement will be made until after Tommy Sheridan's sentencing hearing on the 26th January and quotes a "friend of the couple" as saying "“Gail has said she has been overwhelmed by the support she has received since the trial and the pressure on her to stand She told me: ‘I realised this was the only move forward for Solidarity and I felt I had to take up Tommy’s mantle. There is everything to fight for and I am fighting to win. Given the strength of support I have received in recent weeks, anything is possible.’”

Release of police tapes questioned in Parliament

Robert Brown MSP

The Herald is reporting  that a Member of the Scottish Parliament, the  Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown,  has written to the Scottish Justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, asking for an explanation on how recordings of Tommy and Gail Sheridan's police interviews came into the possession of the BBC. Footage of  both interrogations was broadcast as part of a documentary shown in Scotland on the night of the verdict.

In a seperate development Lothan and Borders police have also been asked to investigate the treatment of Gail Sheridan during her police interview following a complaint from a "member of the public."You can read the full story Here

Update


Scottish Blogger Lallands Peat Worrier has posted the details of the specific questions put to the minister, see Here for the details

Tommy Sheridan Interview

Bernard Ponsonby

Scottish Television has placed online a 25 minute interview with Tommy Sheridan, conducted by their senior political correspondent Bernard Ponsonby. The piece was recorded just a few days before the jury returned their verdict on the 23rd December.


The full video can be viewed Here

The Orwell Prize

A few weeks ago it was suggested that I enter this site into the Orwell Prize for Political Blogging. 
One of the things I had to do in relation to that was submit 10 posts for consideration. I've done that and thought I'd share what I thought were the most interesting pieces we have produced so far. 

Tommy Sheridan begins his own defence


Katrine Trolle, Tommy Sheridan's Cross-Examination


Anvar Khan's Cross-Examination by Paul McBride


George McNeilage Cross-Examination


Matthew McColl Cross-Examination

Andrew Coulson Part 1 

Thomas Montgomery


Tommy Sheridan's Summation, the forensics issue


The Verdict


Social Media and the Sheridan Trial


I realise that the list concentrates on cross-examinations, however these do tend to produce the most dramatic moments in court. There are however still a few days before we have to submit our final entry so if anyone has any disagreements with the choices, or suggestions for other posts to be entered please leave a comment or email us at the usual address.

"Sheridan Juror" on Facebook:"Tommy is Innocent" Reports

The Scottish Sunday Herald is reporting (story not online) that a woman who served on the jury during the trial of HMA Vs Thomas and Gail Sheridan has "posted confidential details of the case on Facebook and claimed the socialist politician is innocent"


The story, by Paul Hutcheon, goes on to claim that  the woman described her fellow jurors as "pure b*******" on a public facebook group  adding  that she wanted to be at court when Mr Sheridan is sentenced "too support you all the way pal." There are also other quotes in the piece that Mr Hutcheon alleges came from the unnamed "jurors's" personal Facebook page. The report also says that the facebook post concluded by the person concerned "identifying where she sat during the trial." 


The article also records the view of a "Senior Scottish Lawyer" stating that this is a breach of the Contempt of Court act 1981 and that the person concerned could face serious consequences "including the possibility of a custodial sentence"


Monday Update


While the original Sunday Herald article is not still not online, today's Herald have published a follow up piece on this subject this morning headlined "Sheridan juror could face jail" that can be found Here

The Scottish Daily Record has also covered the story, that link is Here

The Sheridan Trial, Friday Morning Update

Despite the trial being adjourned for sentencing, articles about the case continue to feature prominently in the Scottish media.

The Herald has a full report on the story, that we reported on yesterday, that Tommy Sheridan is to "take legal action" against  News International and the Metropolitan Police for allegedly "hacking" his mobile phone. This can be found Here

The Scotsman meanwhile leads with a story on "three new witnesses" who will, it says "bolster" Mr Sheridan's appeal, that story is Here

Finally Kenneth Roy at the Scottish Review has an update on his piece from earlier this week on the BBC's broadcast of police interview tapes on the day of the verdict, a link to that  is Here

If any reader has a link to any article or blogpost they think  would be of interest please leave a note in the comments or email us at the usual address, sheridantrial@gmail.com .

Update

The Herald has now run a piece on one of the "new witnesses" mentioned in the Scotsman article above, that can be found Here

Tommy Sheridan taking legal action against News of the World/Metropolitan Police

The Guardian is reporting.

"The former Scottish socialist leader Tommy Sheridan is taking legal action against News International and Scotland Yard after his personal details emerged as part of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. The disgraced former MSP has instructed his lawyers to pursue the NoW and the convicted private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for breach ofprivacy after details about his home address and mobile phone were found in two of Mulcaire's notebooks in a police raid four years ago."

The full article can be found Here

Update

The BBC has an article with further details and a quote from Aamer Anwar 

"Mr Sheridan wants to know who instructed the hacking, why wasn't there a full and transparent investigation by the Metropolitan police and why wasn't he informed. It wasn't just one occasion: it's on two separate occasions."


"This won't be an action for damages; it's an action to find out what went on.
"It is in the public interest to find out what's going on."

Guardian article

The Guardian has been good enough to publish an article based on a post I wrote on "Social media and the Sheridan trial." It can be found Here


One thing I didn't highlight was all of the people who made it possible for the blog to happen at all, the people who encouraged me to keep writing, those who helped me get into court every day, and of course Whatsy for all of their help. So If I can just make it clear that I appreciate all of you and the help you gave me.

Thanks

James.

The News of the World and "Phone Hacking"

With today's news that a senior News of the World executive has been suspended following an allegation of "phone hacking" (see Here ) I've had a few emails asking me about the evidence presented during the Tommy Sheridan trial on that issue. Regular readers will be aware that the issue of the possible illegal interception of voicemail messages played a large role in the defence case, with four witnesses being questioned about it. Rather than people having to search through the site for that evidence we have decided to create a single post on that subject.


The first witness to be asked about the issue was Bob Bird, the Scottish editor of the News of the World. The relevant part of his testimony is from around paragraph five in This Report  This was the  first time the court was shown a document containing Mr Sheridan's personal and telephone details that was later confirmed to have been siezed after a police raid on the home of Glen Mulcaire, a private invesigator who later pleaded guilty, along with the News of the World's then royal editor Clive Goodman, of illegally accessing the voicemail of a member of the Royal Household. Mr Bird denied any knowledge of how Mr Sheridan's details came to be in Mr Mulcaire's notebook

Kenneth Roy on "The BBC, the police and Tommy Sheridan

Kenneth Roy has written a piece on the BBC documentary "The Rise and Lies of Tommy Sheridan" that was broadcast on the evening of the verdict saying;

"Only now, in the bleak light of January, is it possible to revisit this shabby little episode in Scottish broadcasting history and to ask one or two unaddressed questions about it."

The full article can be found Here

(the documentary itself is unfortunately no longer available on BBC iPlayer it can however be found online) 

Press Articles - A Collection Of Links

In no particular order we have listed here links that reference articles that may be of interest to those people who have been following the perjury trial of Tommy Sheridan vs HMA.   Readers should note this is far from an exhaustive list and focuses mostly on articles written after the conclusion of the trial.