Ministers accused of trying to withhold MORE legal papers

THE Scottish Government is facing new claims it tried to withhold key documents from a legal case.

A two-day hearing will get under way today at the Court of Session following a challenge against the ban on public worship during lockdown.

Lawyers acting for Canon Tom White, a Catholic priest from Glasgow, raised concerns with the court earlier this week about the Scottish Government not handing over key documents.

Elaine Motion, chairman and partner at law firm Balfour & Manson, said: ‘On March 1, 2021, we requested, in writing, that the Scottish ministers confirm that they would provide all relevant documentation in compliance with their duty of candour. We did not receive the necessary confirmation/assurances and so the matter was raised before the court on Monday, March 8, in a procedural hearing.

‘The court requested the Scottish ministers’ senior counsel to confirm that his clients accepted that they had a duty of candour and that was confirmed by said senior counsel.’

Ahead of today’s hearing, Canon White said: ‘I invite all Christians to pray with me over the coming days, that the right decision will be made and church doors once again are opened throughout our country.’

At the Holyrood inquiry, Alex Salmond claimed under oath that his legal team had identified around 40 documents never shared by the Government despite a search warrant asking it to hand over all evidence ahead of his court case.

Legal advice published by the Scottish Government in relation to the judicial review brought forward by Mr Salmond revealed concerns ministers tried to hide a key detail from the Court of Session.

It said that legal advisers discovered a name of someone copied into email exchanges about reporting allegations to the police which had been redacted from documents.

Last night, a Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on ongoing litigation.’