Woman, 62, denies accepting bribe when she served on jury at High Court trial of seven people

A FORMER juror who deliberated on High Court proceedings is to go on trial accused of accepting a bribe in return for performing her legal task “improperly”.

Catherine Leahy, 62, pleaded not guilty to the charge at a procedural hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.

Her lawyer Frances McMenamin QC tendered the plea on her client’s behalf to judge Lord Turnbull. Ms Leahy, of Springburn, Glasgow, has been accused of breaching the Bribery Act 2010. Her co-accused is Charles Leahy, 22, who lives at the same address.

Prosecutors allege that, between November 2, 2015, and June 2, 2016, the pair agreed to “receive or accept a financial or other advantage” while she served as a juror at the High Court in Glasgow.

The Crown claims that, as a consequence of them accepting the alleged “advantage”, Ms Leahy agreed she would perform her task as a juror “improperly”.

A legal document stating the charge against Ms Leahy states that at the time she allegedly committed the offence she was sitting as a juror in the trial of seven people.

The offence is said to have taken place at the High Court in Glasgow, an address in the east end of the city and a branch of Santander at the Parkhead Forge shopping centre in Glasgow.

Mr Leahy is also accused of possessing the drug MDMA at Cardowan Road and Inveresk Street, Glasgow, on July 5, 2016, when he is also accused of possessing cannabis. Prosecutors also claim he was involved in the supply of cannabis and cocaine.

Mr Leahy’s advocate John Scullion QC also tendered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf to all charges.