Court hears Natalie McGarry asked two politicians to sign cheques

Two Scottish politicians were asked to sign blank cheques by Natalie McGarry, a trial has heard.

Anne McLaughlin, 56, said she felt “uncomfortable” signing cheques she believed was to cover spending for a Glasgow SNP branch.

The witness told Glasgow Sheriff Court that the cheques were blank other than another signature by MSP John Mason.

McGarry, 40, who represented Glasgow East at Westminster for the SNP, allegedly stole more than 25,000 from two organisations advocating for Scottish independence between April 2013 and August 2015.

McGarry allegedly embezzled £21,000 while treasurer for Women for Independence between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015.

A second charge states McGarry took £4,661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was Treasurer, Secretary and Convenor of Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP.

Jurors heard from Glasgow North East MP Miss McLaughlin who claimed she was a cheque signatory for the GRA.

She stated she was asked on two occasions to sign blank cheques for McGarry.

Miss McLaughlin said: “It was when we were campaigning to be candidates in the 2015 general election when she said she was going to jump out a taxi and get me to sign cheques as there were various balances needing to be paid.”

Prosecutor Alistair Mitchell: “When you signed the cheques, were they completed?”

Miss McLaughlin: “No.”

Mr Mitchell: “Who was co-signer?”

Miss McLaughlin: “John Mason - I don’t know how surprised he was when he was still a co-signer."

Mr Mitchell: “Is it correct you signed a bunch of blank cheques?”

Miss McLaughlin: “Yes...I felt uncomfortable doing it but never felt unusual doing it for Natalie.”

The witness added that the then "smaller" SNP had cheques and balances.

She added that she expected the funds to be used for GRA purposes.

Miss McLaughlin then recalled the second occasion when McGarry went to her home while she was hosting a campaign meeting with SNP members after the 2015 election.

She said: “I was told that there were balances which had to be paid for a certain time.

"We were elected in May 2015 to really well paid jobs and we were earning £80,000 an Natalie was saying how terrible it was to pay a student loan and being so skint.

"I didn't know where to put myself as people there were earning a third of what we were earning.

"There was a bit of chat about how awful it was to be so skint and pay this money."

Miss McLaughlin was shown a variety of cheques which she co-signed with Mr Mason in 2015 including one to Natalie McGarry personally and another to cash.

Mr Mitchell: "Is it normal for cheques to be made out to cash from the GRA?"

Miss McLaughlin: "I wouldn't have signed it if it was made out to cash, I shouldn't have signed the blank cheque."

Allan Macleod, defending, put it to the witness that the cheques signed for McGarry were before the election.

She replied: "I signed cheques before the election and signed cheques after the election, there is no doubt about that."

Glasgow Shettleston MSP John Mason, 64, stated in evidence that he was a cheque signatory at the GRA.

He said: "It was common for someone to sign a cheque when it was still blank and I would have done that for the GRA.”

Mr Mitchell: “Beyond signing blank cheques, would you have knowledge of what the cheques would be used for?”

Mr Mason: “Usually not, if there was a second signatory you would but if I was first, I would not know.”

Mr Mitchell: “Were you comfortable signing cheques in that way?”

Mr Mason: “Yes.”

WFI member Megan Farr, 47, who recalled a conversation she had with McGarry while watching a 2014 Commonwealth Games boxing match.

She said: “Her aunt Tricia Marwick phoned and Natalie knew I knew Tricia as I knew her dad.

“She said she was unwell at the time.

“She said don’t tell anyone but she said Tricia had been helping her out with living expenses at the time.

“I have had a conversation with Tricia about it subsequently.

“I was aware her parents helped her out as well.”

Teacher Julie Tarbett, 50, told jurors she had a conversation with McGarry at a Perth SNP conference in October 2013.

She said: "Natalie was crying, she said she thought she was going to be evicted from her flat due to inability to pay her rent."

The witness claimed she loaned McGarry £1,000 interest free and received £700 in two instalments in April and November 2014.

She added that the final £300 has not yet been paid back.

McGarry - of the city's Clarkston - denies the two charges.

The trial continues before sheriff Tom Hughes.

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