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Sheridan held over perjury probe Sheridan held over perjury probe
(about 1 hour later)
Former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan has been detained in connection with a police inquiry into perjury allegations.Former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan has been detained in connection with a police inquiry into perjury allegations.
The claims surfaced following Mr Sheridan's defamation case against the News of the World.The claims surfaced following Mr Sheridan's defamation case against the News of the World.
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed a 43-year-old man had been detained in Edinburgh.A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police confirmed a 43-year-old man had been detained in Edinburgh.
They said he was being interviewed in respect of an ongoing investigation into allegations of perjury. Police began a search of Mr Sheridan's home, in Glasgow's Cardonald area, while his wife Gail was detained there.
The former Scottish Socialist Party leader won his case against the News of the World newspaper in August 2006 after a four-week hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Mr Sheridan was driven to Gayfield police station in Edinburgh at lunchtime where officers can hold him for up to six hours without charge.
The officers talked to Tommy in the back of their unmarked car for three to four minutes, after which time he was driven away talk107 statementThe officers talked to Tommy in the back of their unmarked car for three to four minutes, after which time he was driven away talk107 statement
The Sunday tabloid was ordered to pay Mr Sheridan £200,000 damages. The former Scottish Socialist Party leader won his case against the News of the World newspaper in August 2006 after a four-week hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
It had made a series of allegations about the MSP's private life. The Sunday tabloid was ordered to pay Mr Sheridan £200,000 damages after it made a series of allegations about his private life.
Following the verdict, the News of the World described the jury's decision as "perverse".Following the verdict, the News of the World described the jury's decision as "perverse".
After the proceedings, prosecutors ordered police to carry out a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury during the defamation case.After the proceedings, prosecutors ordered police to carry out a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury during the defamation case.
The Procurator Fiscal at Edinburgh instructed Lothian and Borders Police to begin criminal investigations in October 2006.
Party splitParty split
Officers detained Mr Sheridan in the car park of a radio station in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon. The Procurator Fiscal at Edinburgh instructed Lothian and Borders Police to begin criminal investigations in October 2006.
Officers detained Mr Sheridan, a father-of-one, in the car park of a radio station in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon.
The talk107 station reported on its website that Mr Sheridan had just finished his Citizen Tommy show and was leaving the building on South Gyle Crescent at about 1310 GMT when a white Mercedes estate pulled into the car park at speed, coming to halt directly in front of his car.The talk107 station reported on its website that Mr Sheridan had just finished his Citizen Tommy show and was leaving the building on South Gyle Crescent at about 1310 GMT when a white Mercedes estate pulled into the car park at speed, coming to halt directly in front of his car.
Talk107 said: "Three plain clothes police officers got out and asked Tommy to get into the back of their vehicle. He was first allowed to collect an item from his own car.Talk107 said: "Three plain clothes police officers got out and asked Tommy to get into the back of their vehicle. He was first allowed to collect an item from his own car.
Police conducted a search at Mr Sheridan's home
"The officers talked to Tommy in the back of their unmarked car for three to four minutes, after which time he was driven away.""The officers talked to Tommy in the back of their unmarked car for three to four minutes, after which time he was driven away."
Mr Sheridan had been the leader of the Scottish Socialist Party in the Scottish Parliament but the party then split during the bitter defamation case. Mr Sheridan led the Scottish Socialist Party in the Scottish Parliament, before the party split during the bitter defamation case.
He went on to lead the Solidarity party but neither he nor his former colleagues were returned to Holyrood in the May 2007 elections. He formed the rival Solidarity party, but neither he nor his former colleagues were returned to Holyrood in the May 2007 elections.
On Sunday evening, police officers sat in an unmarked car outside the Sheridan family home, while plain clothes police were seen walking about inside.
Mr Sheridan's lawyer, Aamar Anwar, said Mr Sheridan was maintaining his innocence.
"Police have been at his house since he was detained and Mrs Sheridan is there at the moment and she is being detained at the family home until the search is completed," he said.