TOMMY Sheridan and his wife Gail are to be represented by two of Scotland�s most senior legal figures when they stand trial for perjury in connection with the former Scottish Socialist MSP�s defamation case against a tabloid newspaper.
TOMMY Sheridan and his wife Gail are to be represented by two of Scotland's most senior legal figures when they stand trial for perjury in connection with the former Scottish Socialist MSP's defamation case against a tabloid newspaper.
Donald Findlay, QC, will represent Mr Sheridan while Paul McBride, QC, will represent Mrs Sheridan at a trial expected to be staged later this year.
The lawyers will be instructed by solicitor Aamer Anwar, representing Mr Sheridan and John Paul Mowberry, representing Mrs Sheridan.
The Crown Office yesterday confirmed indictments had been served on the couple, both aged 44, in connection with a perjury investigation that began after Mr Sheridan's defamation victory against the News of the World in 2006.
The couple appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 27 last year charged with perjury at which time neither made any plea or declaration. Both were given bail.
A throng of journalists and cameramen gathered on the steps of Mr Anwar's office in Glasgow yesterday.
Mr Sheridan's mother Alice, 70, greeted her son with a hug as he arrived with Mr Anwar shortly after 4pm. Mr Anwar declined questions from the waiting media, but read out a statement declaring: "I can confirm that an indictment was served today for charges of perjury against Thomas and Gail Sheridan."
The solicitor said a preliminary hearing had been fixed for February 26 at the High Court in Edinburgh when a trial date is expected to be set.
Mr Anwar added: "As proceedings are live it would be inappropriate to comment further, other than to state that both Mr and Mrs Sheridan maintain their innocence and are determined to fight this."
When asked how he was feeling, Mr Sheridan said only: "As Aamer has said, we will fight to clear our names."
A Crown Office spokeswoman later said no decision had yet been taken on whether to indict five other people reported to the procurator-fiscal in connection with the alleged perjury case.
Mr Sheridan, a former Glasgow MSP, won his defamation case against the News of the World in August 2006 after the newspaper alleged he had cheated on his wife with a sex worker.
In a five-week trial the court heard allegations that Mr Sheridan regularly cheated on his wife and had visited Cupid's sex club in Manchester.
A majority of the jury dismissed the claims and awarded damages of £200,000 to Mr Sheridan. However, conflicting evidence prompted Lothian and Borders police to conduct an inquiry.
