RUPERT Murdoch came face-to-face with public rage over the phone hacking scandal as he flew into Glasgow for a meeting with his Scottish staff.

The News Corporation chairman and chief executive was confronted by Alice Sheridan, the mother of Tommy Sheridan, who said police told her that her phone was hacked by the News of the World.

Mrs Sheridan, 73, who has battled breast cancer twice, shouted "you scum" as she confronted the 80-year-old media magnate at The Scottish Sun's headquarters.

She says she was told her confidential phone details were among the notes belonging to private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who was jailed for phone hacking in 2007.

The fracas came as it emerged the former chief executive of News International, Rebekah Brooks, was lent a horse by Scotland Yard. She "fostered" the animal after it retired from active service.

She paid for food and vet bills until it was rehoused with a police officer in 2010 – months before fresh investigations into illegal activities at the News of the World.

Confirmation of the two-year loan comes amid ongoing scrutiny over the close relationship between police and the media giant.

The Leveson Inquiry has been told the relationship between The Sun's parent company and the force was "at best inappropriately close and at worst corrupt".

Yesterday, Mrs Sheridan asked Mr Murdoch: "Why did you target a pensioner?"

However, Mr Murdoch walked past her into the offices.

Ms Sheridan said: "I said, 'Why have you authorised the tapping of my phone?'

"He said what he always says, nothing, and walked away. He's so arrogant."

Referring to Mr Murdoch's support for First Minister Alex Salmond, on Twitter, she went on: "If that's got anything to do with our independence, we've got something to worry about.

"I want independence, but I don't want him involved in it."

She has described those involved in phone hacking as "lower than the underbelly of humanity" and said she felt the intrusion was "emotional rape".

Tommy Sheridan was involved in a high-profile defamation action against the News of the World in 2006 after it published a story claiming he was an adulterer who visited a swingers' club.

He was jailed last year for perjuring himself in that trial.

However, he was released in January of this year after serving 12 months of his three-year sentence.

His mother says she is contemplating joining more than 50 others who are suing or planning to sue Rupert Murdoch's News International for invasion of privacy as a consequence of News of the World phone hacking.