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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Police probe Sheridan 'bug' claim | Police probe Sheridan 'bug' claim |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Police are investigating a complaint from Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan that he has been bugged. | Police are investigating a complaint from Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan that he has been bugged. |
| The Solidarity MSP's staff called in officers on Thursday after a "device" was found in his car while he was travelling back to Holyrood. | The Solidarity MSP's staff called in officers on Thursday after a "device" was found in his car while he was travelling back to Holyrood. |
| Lothian and Borders Police have taken the item away for examination. | Lothian and Borders Police have taken the item away for examination. |
| Mr Sheridan said the device had a "wee aerial" on it and that he was "concerned and very angry". He is due to meet officers on Friday. | |
| His car was being kept overnight by the police, who asked him not to release any further details. | |
| Appeal hearing | Appeal hearing |
| Last year the former Scottish Socialist Party leader won £200,000 in damages from the News of the World over stories which alleged he was a "swinger" and had cheated on his wife Gail. | |
| Following the verdict prosecutors ordered police to carry out a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury during the defamation case. | Following the verdict prosecutors ordered police to carry out a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury during the defamation case. |
| The News of the World is seeking to overturn the court's verdict and an appeal is due to be heard in December. | The News of the World is seeking to overturn the court's verdict and an appeal is due to be heard in December. |
| The state has a fine history of trying to destabilise and undermine socialist movements or trade union struggles Tommy Sheridan | The state has a fine history of trying to destabilise and undermine socialist movements or trade union struggles Tommy Sheridan |
| The tabloid later produced a video it claimed showed Mr Sheridan admitting he had visited a swingers' club. | |
| The footage was dismissed as a "concoction" by the MSP, who claimed to be the victim of "sinister forces". | The footage was dismissed as a "concoction" by the MSP, who claimed to be the victim of "sinister forces". |
| After the tape emerged, Mr Sheridan told a press conference that he believed the British state was orchestrating a plot against him. | After the tape emerged, Mr Sheridan told a press conference that he believed the British state was orchestrating a plot against him. |
| He said: "The state has a fine history of trying to destabilise and undermine socialist movements or trade union struggles. | He said: "The state has a fine history of trying to destabilise and undermine socialist movements or trade union struggles. |
| "And when the history of this whole episode is written about, I think you'll find that MI5 certainly was involved." | "And when the history of this whole episode is written about, I think you'll find that MI5 certainly was involved." |
| I don't know who would want to bug Tommy Sheridan Colin FoxScottish Socialist Party convener | I don't know who would want to bug Tommy Sheridan Colin FoxScottish Socialist Party convener |
| The trial split the Scottish Socialist Party, with senior members and MSPs giving evidence for both sides. | |
| The acrimony within the party culminated in Mr Sheridan and another MSP, Rosemary Byrne, leaving to set up the breakaway left-wing party Solidarity. | The acrimony within the party culminated in Mr Sheridan and another MSP, Rosemary Byrne, leaving to set up the breakaway left-wing party Solidarity. |
| Colin Fox, who replaced Mr Sheridan as SSP convener, said he was "flabbergasted" by the latest development. | Colin Fox, who replaced Mr Sheridan as SSP convener, said he was "flabbergasted" by the latest development. |
| The MSP said: "It's another bizarre twist in the tale. | The MSP said: "It's another bizarre twist in the tale. |
| "I'm as surprised as anybody by this. I don't know who would want to bug Tommy Sheridan. | "I'm as surprised as anybody by this. I don't know who would want to bug Tommy Sheridan. |
| "I await with interest to find out what this item is that Lothian and Borders Police have picked up." | "I await with interest to find out what this item is that Lothian and Borders Police have picked up." |