Jailed for six years, juror who took drug trial bribe
Scots legal history as mum locked up for pocketing £3k
A JUROR who took a bribe during a drugs trial was yesterday jailed for six years.
Catherine Leahy, 62, accepted almost £3,000 during proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow.
The former classroom assistant was caught after police received a tip-off and bugged her home in Springboig.
Leahy was the foreman on the jury that acquitted Graham Clarke, an alleged drug dealer, and others. Prosecutors are considering a retrial.
Yesterday, defence advocate Thomas Ross, QC, told the High Court in Edinburgh his client had cared for her parents and husband before they died. He also said prison would be ‘extremely difficult’ for her.
But judge Lord Turnbull said he could only deal with the matter by jailing Leahy.
It is the first case of its type in Scottish legal history. No jurors have previously been prosecuted for corruption.
Passing sentence, Lord Turnbull said: ‘In my judgment, to agree to accept a bribe from or on behalf of the accused while serving as a juror in that High Court trial involved conduct that is such a serious breach of the public duty that forms a cornerstone of our freedom.
‘It is thoroughly obvious that a lengthy custodial sentence is merited in such circumstances.’
At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Iain McSporran, QC, said police found four payments of £300, £1,000, £1,200 and £330 had been made to Leahy’s accounts between April 19 and June 2, 2016. They concluded she had been bribed.
In court, Leahy denied the accusations and claimed the money came from a cheque from a British Shipbuilders pension and a savings club.
The case was launched the day after the Clarke trial.
The procurator fiscal’s office in Glasgow received a tip-off that members of the jury in the case had been paid. After suspicion fell on Leahy, her home was bugged from September 19 to 30, 2016.
She shared the property with her son Joseph, 22, who was originally on trial with her. But the charges against him were dropped.
The bug recorded 31 conversations between Leahy and her son. In one, he said: ‘Mum, it wasn’t just you that got bribed’
Leahy was a juror in the trial of Clarke, his wife Lindsay and othuct ers, from November 2015 to April 2016. All charges against Clarke were found not proven. His wife was convicted of mortgage fraud.
On Thursday, the court heard Leahy still maintained she was innocent. But Lord Turnbull told her: ‘The evidence was the prod- of a listening device which was placed in your home. It provided overwhelming proof of your guilt.
‘Your evidence to this court in which you denied your actions was quite ridiculous.’
Liam Murphy, procurator fiscal for specialist casework, said: ‘The role of the jury sits at the heart of our criminal justice system and is fundamental to our rule of law.
‘This is the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland, which shows cases of jury interference are exceptionally rare.
‘Leahy took advantage of a position of public responsibility for financial gain without any regard to the consequences.’
Detective Inspector Graeme Everest said: ‘Specialist investigators were involved in this complex and unique inquiry. Through their professionalism and meticulous approach, we were able to ensure Leahy was held accountable for her crime.’
Prosecutors are now considering the circumstances of the original trial. The Crown can ask the court for authority to bring a fresh prosecution in cases where a person was acquitted in certain circumstances, including when an offence against the course of justice in the original trial is considered to have been committed.
‘A serious breach of public duty’ ‘Your evidence was quite ridiculous’