Former MP Natalie McGarry wept tears of joy as appeal judges ruled she had been a victim of a miscarriage of justice.
The Fife-born politician, who was jailed for embezzling money intended for a Perth foodbank and thousands of pounds from pro-Scottish independence groups, had her convictions quashed following a hearing at the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday.
Fife-born former SNP MP Natalie McGarry given leave to appeal £25k charity embezzlement conviction
However, McGarry was told she will have to stand trial again.
Judges Lord Carloway, Lord Glennie and Lord Turnbull made their ruling after hearing submissions at the Edinburgh court from defence advocate Gordon Jackson QC.
The details of Mr Jackson’s submissions cannot be reported for legal reasons. The Crown was represented by Alex Prentice QC, whose submissions are also covered by reporting restrictions.
The former Glasgow MP, who previously contested the Cowdenbeath Holyrood constituency in 2014 for the SNP, spent the hour and 40 minutes of the hearing sitting in the dock.
She began to weep as Lord Carloway, Scotland’s most senior judge, told her of the court’s decision.
He added: “The conviction will therefore be quashed and a retrial be ordered.”
The former Glasgow East representative was jailed for 18 months in June 2019 at the city’s sheriff court after pleading guilty to stealing more than £25,000 from pro-indy groups.
She was convicted of taking cash she allegedly was not entitled to from the SNP’s Glasgow Regional Association and Women for Independence.
Prosecutors said some of the allegedly embezzled money included donations that had been meant for a foodbank in Perth.
She was said to have spent some of the money on rent, a Spanish holiday, cash transfers to her husband – Glasgow Conservative councillor David Meikle – and other lifestyle expenses.
After pleading guilty to the embezzlement charges, Sheriff Paul Crozier had told McGarry: “You have fallen very far short of the standards the general public should expect from their elected representatives.
“There is no alternative than a custodial sentence as you have shown no remorse.”
McGarry made no comment yesterday as she left the appeal court and walked through Edinburgh’s historic Parliament Square, heading in the direction of Princes Street.
