Health Secretary loaned McGarry £600

THE HEALTH Secretary Humza Yousaf told a jury on Monday that he loaned Natalie McGarry money to stop her being evicted.

The MSP stated that a “distressed” McGarry came to his office in Glasgow city centre in February 2014.

He claimed that he was told by McGarry that she did “not have the money” and was threatened with losing her property that day.

Mr Yousaf said that he then gave McGarry £600 which was later paid back.

McGarry, 40, who represented Glasgow East at Westminster for the SNP, allegedly stole more than £25,000 from two organisations advocating for Scottish independence between April 2013 and August 2015.

McGarry allegedly embezzled £21,000 while treasurer for Women for Independence between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015. A second charge states McGarry took £4661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was Treasurer, Secretary and Convenor of Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP.

Mr Yousaf told jurors in evidence at Glasgow Sheriff Court that McGarry arrived at his West Nile Street constituency office.

Mr Yousaf: “I think she was speaking to my office manager at the time Shona McAlpine.

“She came to my office in a state of distress.

“I asked her what was wrong and she told me she was threatened with being evicted that day if she didn’t come up with around the sum of £600.

“I offered to give her a loan of funds about the £600 mark from the bank across the road.

“I made the transaction and the money was returned roughly in the timescale.”

Mr Mitchell: “Was there a discussion on the source of the funds being used to pay the money back?”

“Mr Yousaf: “No.” McGarry’s friend Jonathan Mackie, 42, stated that he was repeatedly sent money by McGarry who “misplaced” her bank card. He stated that he was then tasked with taking money out of the bank to give to her.

The witness initially believed this happened on “five or six” occasions but he told the jury that he was informed by the police that this took place 13 times. The witness claimed that he then found out McGarry had taken out a loan with Amigo Loans.

He said: “I knew how much she earned after tax and the idea would be if you need a payday loan to get you through to pay day as the name suggests – it was just crackers.”

Mr Macleod put it to Mr Mackie that the loan was not a “payday loan” but £5000 she took out from Amigo over a five-year period.

McGarry, of Clarkston, denies the two charges. The trial continues.