Former SNP MP to stand trial for embezzlement

Former SNP MP Natalie McGarry will stand trial in May charged with embezzling more than £25,000 from two Scottish independence organisations.

McGarry, who represented Glasgow East, allegedly embezzled the cash between April 2013 and August 2015.

The 39-year-old, of the city’s Clarkston, denies the two charges.

McGarry had her attendance at a hearing in Glasgow Sheriff Court excused when a six-week trial was set.

One of the witnesses is expected to be Scottish Government health secretary Jeane Freeman.

Sheriff Andrew Cubie said: “I think I want to assign a trial diet for May 4.”

McGarry’s defence counsel Allan MacLeod said the defence is still seeking more information.

Mr MacLeod also raised concerns about outgoing health secretary Jeane Freeman MSP who will be a witness in the trial.

The lawyer said: “She is perhaps the most important witness in this case.

“We are in a global pandemic and an election is a few days before the trial.

“She is not sitting in the election and will no longer be the health secretary by the time the trial starts.

“I can’t imagine when a new health secretary is appointed a few days before the election that she will pack her bags without a backwards glance.

“There will be training of a new health secretary with complex issues and will not want the trial to divert from that important work.”

Sheriff Cubie responded that it is unknown if Miss Freeman would still have an advisory role.

Prosecutors claim McGarry embezzled £21,000 while Treasurer for Women for Independence between April 26 2013 and November 30 2015.

It is claimed she transferred cash made from fundraising events into her own personal accounts and failed to send the donations intended for Perth and Kinross food bank and the charity Positive Prisons Positive Futures.

She then allegedly used cheques - held in the name of Women for Independence - to deposit money into her accounts.

The second charge states McGarry embezzled £4,661 between April 9 2014 and August 10 2015.

It is alleged that - while McGarry was Treasurer, Secretary and Convenor of Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP - she used cheques drawn from their bank account to pay expenses not incurred by the group.

Prosecutors claim McGarry retained reimbursements intended to settle expenses which she was not entitled to.

The charge goes on to say McGarry used cheques and money from donations to the organisation to deposit money to her own accounts.

Sheriff Cubie continued McGarry’s bail meantime.

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