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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sheridan vows to prove innocence | Sheridan vows to prove innocence |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan has vowed to clear his name after being charged with perjury. | Former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan has vowed to clear his name after being charged with perjury. |
| The charges against Mr Sheridan relate to a police inquiry into his defamation case against the News of the World. | The charges against Mr Sheridan relate to a police inquiry into his defamation case against the News of the World. |
| The 43-year-old, who was arrested in Edinburgh while his house in Glasgow was searched, claimed he was the victim of a "political witch-hunt". | The 43-year-old, who was arrested in Edinburgh while his house in Glasgow was searched, claimed he was the victim of a "political witch-hunt". |
| The tabloid was ordered to pay damages after it made a series of allegations about Mr Sheridan's private life. | The tabloid was ordered to pay damages after it made a series of allegations about Mr Sheridan's private life. |
| Talk show | Talk show |
| During the defamation case witnesses gave conflicting evidence about the circumstances of the allegations. | During the defamation case witnesses gave conflicting evidence about the circumstances of the allegations. |
| Two months after the proceedings concluded in August 2006, prosecutors ordered police to carry out a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury. | Two months after the proceedings concluded in August 2006, prosecutors ordered police to carry out a criminal investigation into allegations of perjury. |
| On Sunday lunchtime, nine officers attended Mr Sheridan's family home in the Cardonald area of Glasgow. | On Sunday lunchtime, nine officers attended Mr Sheridan's family home in the Cardonald area of Glasgow. |
| A police team then visited him after he finished his weekly talk show at an Edinburgh radio station. | |
| He was taken to Gayfield Police Station in the Scottish capital, where he was questioned for eight hours before being charged with perjury. | He was taken to Gayfield Police Station in the Scottish capital, where he was questioned for eight hours before being charged with perjury. |
| Mr Sheridan gave a statement upon his release from custody, in which he vowed to clear his name, no matter how long it took. | Mr Sheridan gave a statement upon his release from custody, in which he vowed to clear his name, no matter how long it took. |
| Police conducted a search at Mr Sheridan's home | Police conducted a search at Mr Sheridan's home |
| He said: "I believe this whole farcical inquiry, which has usurped an incredible amount of public resources, has been orchestrated and influenced by the powerful reach of the Murdoch empire and I believe that I am the victim of a witch-hunt from the Murdoch empire. | He said: "I believe this whole farcical inquiry, which has usurped an incredible amount of public resources, has been orchestrated and influenced by the powerful reach of the Murdoch empire and I believe that I am the victim of a witch-hunt from the Murdoch empire. |
| "I will prove my innocence in the fullness of time." | "I will prove my innocence in the fullness of time." |
| He added: "I now look forward to going back and hugging my wife and my two-year-old child, who has had to go through the very, very frightening experience of having nine police officers invade her home. | He added: "I now look forward to going back and hugging my wife and my two-year-old child, who has had to go through the very, very frightening experience of having nine police officers invade her home. |
| "She should have been at a Christmas party today, but instead she has had to suffer that ignominy." | "She should have been at a Christmas party today, but instead she has had to suffer that ignominy." |
| His solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said Sheridan maintained his innocence and condemned the "excessive actions" of Lothian and Borders Police. | His solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said Sheridan maintained his innocence and condemned the "excessive actions" of Lothian and Borders Police. |
| Party split | Party split |
| A spokesperson for the News of the World - which is owned by Rupert Murdoch - said they did not wish to comment. | A spokesperson for the News of the World - which is owned by Rupert Murdoch - said they did not wish to comment. |
| Mr Sheridan, the former leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, won his case against the newspaper after a four-week hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. | |
| When the Scottish Socialists split, Mr Sheridan, a father-of-one, formed the rival Solidarity party, but neither he nor his former colleagues were returned to Holyrood in the May 2007 elections. | |