Advocate McBride died with only £200 in bank

Friday 18 January 2013

One of Scotland's leading advocates left no will and only £200 in his bank accounts when he died suddenly at the age of 47 on an overseas trip.

luxury: Paul McBride in his Glasgow apartment. Following his death it was put on the market at offers over £725,000. Picture: James Galloway

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Paul McBride, who was one of the country's highest-profile defence QCs through his work with Celtic and fight against bigotry, left an estate valued at more than £1 million after he passed away from undiagnosed heart disease in Lahore, Pakistan, in March last year.

Legal documents reveal the figure included a £900,000 life assurance policy he took out with Scottish Provident.Mr McBride became Scotland's youngest QC at the age of 35 and was regarded as the country's finest lawyer of his generation.The advocate lived in a luxury apartment in the Park area of Glasgow with his partner Gary Murphy, whom he was in a civil partnership with.The £1 million sum included a £900,000 life insurance policy with Scottish Provident. He was also owed almost £90,000 by clients for his work.Mr McBride left no will to direct how his estate should be divided and Mr Murphy has been appointed as the sole executor.Documents lodged at Glasgow Sheriff Court show the estate was valued at a total of £1,006,630, including the life assurance policy and monies owed.The documents also broke down other aspects of his lifestyle, including his £400 personal car registration, W999 LAW, and he had furniture and personal effects worth £16,000.The apartment was valued at £795,000, but he had an outstanding mortgage of £876,274 at the time of his death.The flat was later put on the market for offers over £725,000.The papers also show he was owed £57.41 by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (Slab).He was known in public life for his generosity generous with his time and money.He gave advice and financial support to a number of junior colleagues and students who were looking to pursue a law career but struggling to find the funds.He also regularly treated his parents and Mr Murphy to luxury holidays.Mr Murphy, 38, an interior designer who became McBride's civil partner in 2007, has since moved to Hong Kong to try to cope with his grief. Mr McBride was found dead in his hotel room by his friend and Glasgow solicitor Aamer Anwar, whom he had accompanied on a trip to Pakistan. He had earlier complained of being unwell.Mr Murphy said last year: "Every day I expect him to walk through the front door. "I sent him away a happy and healthy person and he came back in a box."It was my worst nightmare. When I got the call to tell me he'd died it broke me. "That's the best part of my life over – the rest is just an existence." A fundraising ball was held in honour of the lawyer, who supported Celtic, in November last year. It was announced that money from his family would be used to set up a youth arm of anti-bigotry charity Nil By Mouth. In September last year, Mr McBride's father George, 71, also spoke of his pride after a university scholarship was set up his memory. One talented student a year from a poor background will be able to study for a master's degree in advocacy at Strathclyde University due to funding from Celtic FC.The Paul McBride Memorial Justice Award has also been set up to encourage students to train for the profession.

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Advocate McBride died with only £200 in bank

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