Top Scottish lawyer Paul McBride has been found dead in a Pakistan hotel room.

The 48-year-old QC died in his sleep and was found dead in his bed this morning, a spokesman for the family said. 

Mr McBride was on a business trip to Lahore with human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar at the time of his death. He had been in Pakistan for several days and it was not known when he was due back in Scotland.

A statement issued on behalf of Mr McBride's family by spokesman Jack Irvine said: "Paul died in his sleep last night in a hotel in Pakistan and at this time we would ask you to respect the privacy of his family. There will be no further statement in the meantime."

Two men are currently on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of conspiring to murder Mr McBride, Celtic manager Neil Lennon and former MSP Trish Godman by sending improvised explosive devices to them between March 1 and April 15 last year.

The two accused, Trevor Muirhead, 43, and Neil McKenzie, 42, are also accused of conspiring to murder various people at republican organisation Cairde na hEireann's premises in Glasgow by sending improvised explosive devices to them. It is alleged that the pair believed the devices were capable of exploding. They deny all charges against them.

Mr McBride was appointed a QC at the age of 35, said to be the youngest QC ever appointed in the UK. He was called to the Scottish Bar in 1988 and has been involved in many high profile criminal cases in Scotland.

One of the most highly regarded and highest-profile criminal lawyers in Scotland, he was involved in the Moira Jones murder trial, the Rosepark care home fire fatal accident inquiry, as well as representing Celtic Football Club.

He was a former member of Labour and the Scottish Conservatives. He left the Scottish Conservatives last June after Ruth Davidson was elected to lead the party north of the border.

Lawyers and politicians were quick to pay tribute to Mr McBride after hearing the news of his death.

Brian McConnachie QC, Vice-Chair of the Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association, said: "Everyone is absolutely stunned and deeply saddened by his death. Paul was very young and had achieved a tremendous amount in such a short space of time and undoubtedly had a great deal more to achieve both legally and no doubt in other fields.

"From a personal point of view Paul was a very good friend to me over a number of years. In common with many people I've had a great deal of generosity from Paul, in particular his time.

"He was a very gifted lawyer and an incredibly intelligent man. I think a lot of that has perhaps been forgotten or ignored because of his high media profile in recent years in relation to politics and football.

"But he was involved in a significant amount of cases throughout his career at the bar which have had a very important impact on the development of Scots law.

"As a man he was very much a larger than life character in that if you knew Paul at all you very often heard Paul before you saw him. He always had something to say and had opinions on many subjects that he was not afraid to express."

 

Mr McBride wrote in his column for the Scottish Sun, published today, about new laws to punish those engaging in offensive behaviour at football which came into force last week.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is sad and shocking news. Paul McBride was an outstanding Advocate, and a very substantial public figure in Scotland.

"Paul's genius lay not just in applying his first-class mind to the complex procedures of Scots Law, but also his unrivalled ability to explain and promote the laws of Scotland to a wider public.

"His reservoir of talent was great indeed, and I believe he had so much more to contribute to the law, and to the great debate on Scotland's future. Paul will be sorely missed across Scotland's legal system, political parties, sport and journalism."

He added: "It is typical of Paul that his last public comment was a newspaper column expressing the belief that the anti-sectarian legislation, of which he was such an eloquent advocate, would herald a historic change for the better in Scotland.

"My thoughts today are with Paul's partner, parents, family and very many friends. Hopefully the knowledge that he was held in such high regard by so many will be of some comfort at this desperately sad time."

Johann Lamont, leader of Scottish Labour, said: "Paul McBride was one of the finest legal minds of his generation. While we didn't always agree, I always thought of him as a thoroughly decent man. When he entered the political debate he was always challenging and his intellect greatly enriched it. He will be missed."

Scottish Conservative party chairman, David Mundell MP, said: "It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of Paul McBride QC.

"He was a fiercely intelligent individual who was as passionate about politics as he was the law. Paul was a towering presence in Scottish public life, who was never afraid to speak out on the issues he cared about. Our thoughts at this time are with his family."

Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said: "Cutting short Paul McBride's full and colourful life is so sad. Scotland will be a lesser place without him."

Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland and Solicitor General Lesley Thomson said in a joint statement: "We are very saddened by the awful news that Paul has died in his sleep overnight in Pakistan. This is devastating news for his partner Gary, family and his friends. We offer our sincere and deepest sympathies to them.

"Paul was in the prime of his life. He lived life to the full and had contributed so much to the legal profession, the media and public life in Scotland. He had a fabulous intellect and was interested in so many things. He was a fearless advocate who was not afraid to speak out about injustice and intolerance. He will be sorely missed."