I want £2m damages for arrest over Rangers sale
Former administrator seeking damages and Crown apology
A FORMER Rangers administrator prosecuted in the wake of the football club’s sale has demanded £2million in damages for wrongful arrest.
David Grier, 59, a corporate restructuring specialist with Duff & Phelps, was arrested in 2014 after a change in ownership of the Glasgow club.
The Ibrox side had been bought for £1 by Craig Whyte from Sir David Murray two years earlier after going into administration.
Following the sale, a number of investigations were launched – ultimately resulting in Mr Whyte being tried and cleared over fraud allegations in 2017.
Key figures in the row are now seeking damages from police and prosecutors over what has been described as ‘a vendetta’ in lawsuits which will cost taxpayers tens of millions of pounds.
It comes after prosecutors admitted last month they had pursued a ‘malicious’ case against two other Rangers FC administrators – Mr Grier’s former colleagues David Whitehouse and Paul Clark – without ‘probable cause’.
Mr Grier is among those taking action against Police Scotland – for several million pounds – and now the Crown.
According to paperwork lodged in court, Mr Grier wants a public apology from the Lord Advocate James
Wolffe, QC. In the documents, Mr Grier’s lawyers say: ‘Any such apology must include Mr Grier. Anything less would be indicative of further malice against Mr Grier and highly detrimental to his reputation.
‘We now formally advise you that we hold instruction to commence an action against the Lord Advocate for the malicious prosecution of Mr Grier, based on the same admissions now made in the case against you by Mr Whitehouse and Mr Clark.’
Mr Grier was arrested in 2014 in relation to Mr Whyte’s takeover of the club. All charges were later dropped.
It is understood Mr Grier is looking for damages amounting to £2million from the
Crown. He is said to be open to settling out of court.
Court paperwork adds: ‘As a result of his being prosecuted maliciously, the pursuer suffered loss and damage.
‘He was suspended from employment after his detention, pending resolution of the charges. He was paid his salary but was deprived of bonuses, details of which will be produced.
‘He suffered serious damage to his reputation and was deprived of promotion opportunities as a result.
‘He lost contact with business associates as a result of being tainted with allegations of fraud, which he has never been able to re-establish.’
The Crown Office declined to comment. A spokesman for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service said the court has advised that the case has not been lodged for calling.
Last month, at the Court of Session, the Crown Office conceded its staff acted unlawfully in pursuing Mr Whitehouse and Clark.
After the Crown’s stark admissions that their human rights had been breached, judge Lord Tyre ordered prosecutors to pay £600,000 in interim expenses – £350,000 to Mr Whitehouse and £250,000 to Mr Clark.
It was later revealed that Mr Whitehouse is now seeking £10.5million damages, while Mr Clark is claiming £10.3million. They were arrested in 2014 over alleged wrongdoing relating to the Ibrox club.
The charges were dropped in 2016.
‘Detrimental to his reputation’