McGarry ‘no idea’ on cheque

A FORMER SNP MP has told a court she had “no idea” thousands of pounds transferred into her account for a campaign group’s media training was never paid properly.

A cheque for £2,000 was paid to Natalie McGarry from the Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP, of which she was treasurer, secretary and convener.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard it was to pay Enterprise Screen Productions for the group’s media training, but it was never paid. McGarry, 40, told her trial: “I have to hold my hands up. I had no idea this cheque had not been paid properly.”

McGarry, former Glasgow East MP, is accused of embezzling £21,000 while treasurer of Women for Independence (WFI) between April 23 2013 and November 30 2015. A second charge alleges she took £4,662 between April 9 2014 and August 2015 when she was with the GRA. McGarry, of Clarkston, denies both charges. Allan Macleod, defending, asked McGarry yesterday if the failure to pay the balance of £2,000 was an omission.

She replied: “Yes.”

The court heard a family friend of McGarry’s worked at Enterprise Screen Productions,.

Mr Macleod continued: “Did you deliberately withhold that money for personal purposes?”

McGarry replied: “Absolutely not. They were family friends, of course I had no intention of not paying them.”

The trial continues.