Scotland’s Nelson Mandela, Tommy Sheridan claims ‘round one’ in boxing match with NOTW, he's now punchy, Sheridan hit so hard he shit himself

Dear All

Just out of prison and already back in Court, Scotland’s Nelson Mandela, Tommy Sheridan convicted of lying and send to prison still wants the £200k he was awarded against News International.

Unbelievable but true.

Going back to Court, Sheridan has claimed a ‘victory’ of sorts in the latest round of his seven-year epic legal battle with the News of the World.

The defunct newspaper's publisher is appealing the decision to award Mr Sheridan £200,000 in damages.

At present, Sheridan is hoping that someway he can find a technicality can claim a ‘moral’ victory and £200k for his prison stay.

The case has been on hold pending police investigations.

News Group went to Edinburgh to ask for the appeal to be reopened but three judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh refused the motion.

Sheridan's legal team hae pitched the argument that the case should remain frozen, technically called sisted until police investigations into alleged phone hacking and other practices can conclude.

If the Police discover evidence that Sheridan was hacked, he will probably try and use that to claim Article Six violation, question is, if any hacking did take place, dates will be important.

What any hacking probe cannot do however is dismiss Sheridan’s confession in front of witnesses, the videotape of him confessing and the witness he confessed to in that tape.

Sheridan no matter how much ducking and diving cannot get round that, and neither can Aamer Anwar, his lawyer.

You’re done mate!

Hope and aspiration is Sheridan’s only lifeline that an appeal court would view the any hacking as calling into question the fairness of the trial, but if you remove News International and any possible misdeeds, you are still left with witnesses and videotape.

After a short hearing at the Court of Session, Lord Clarke said:

"The appropriate course is to refuse the motion to recall the sist."

Standard judgment there hardly surprising but not as Sheridan claims a victory!

Speaking outside the court, Mr Sheridan said:

"We will wait for the outcome of that investigation and then look forward to coming back to this court to fight for the upholding of the original jury verdict in this trial."

In other words, Sheridan and Anwar want to go fishing.

Sheridan said:

“If it was a boxing match, it would be round one to us.”

Sheridan’s time in prison has left him punchy, News International won round one and the match.

Tommy Sheridan added:

"We will wait for the outcome of that investigation and then look forward to coming back to this court to fight for the upholding of the original jury verdict in this trial."

His solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said Strathclyde police were looking at allegations of phone hacking and data protection breaches in Scotland.

Anwar said:

"We expect that inquiry to take place for another several months or so. We do not know what the outcome of that investigation will be but the News of the World will simply have to wait until that investigation is completed. The shoe is on the other foot this time around. News of the World is now defunct and they are presently facing massive investigation north and south of the border."

And none of it is germane to Sheridan’s case or his guilt.

However, since his political career is dead, his party marginalised and his personal credibility not worth the paper it is written on, what has he to lose? If he pulls it off a technical knockout then it will be a classic case of pyrrhic victory!

In non legal terms, this side or the other side of this smoke and mirrors act, Tommy Sheridan is still utterly f*cked!

The sun has set on his political career.

He could try porno or pantomime.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University