The Devil's Advocate; Former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier to stand trial over Covid rule breach charges in August 2022, given the prosecution has a rather weak and unsteady case, I would venture that there is an 80% chance of Ferrier beating the rap, and walking away from Court a free woman, there are multiple issues where reasonable doubt could exist

As we launch into this new year, we can expect the Courts to be busy, in fact, one of my friends got a jury citation for this month. It would appear to me, having served on a jury previously myself that once you hit the age of 50, as if by a miracle or magic, you get on their rota. So far, I have been cited three or four times already, and each time I dread it. My brother also got a citation, wasn't picked, but it made me laugh, he is from the hang them high school of jury service, men, women kids, pack them off to jail. Jury selection we are told is supposed to be random, so either there is a lot of crime in Glasgow, or that is rubbish. I met an old dear who said she had been cited six times, my heart sank on hearing that tome. 

The population of Glasgow is said to be by the last tally around 635,640, that is a lot of people, in fact you might opine if you were picked once, you would out from under being cited. Of course, law and order is a fairly interesting topic, and sitting in the jury as one of 15 people can be semi interesting. I found from my experience having been selected and been in the jury pool, that it isn't something I relish. There are of course some crimes which peak everyone's interest for various reason. One trial which is starting later in the year (allegedly) is the trial of ex SNP MP Natalie McGarry, a pal of Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, apparently from the start of the process to date, it is said to have been about 8 years. Will McGarry's trial go ahead in April or will it be put back further, why is the corrupt Crown Office so slow? In the last trial, McGarry plead guilty, after she was sent to jail, presumably not finding the accommodation to her likening, she changed her mind, and said she was innocent. 

Stay tuned for the rematch! 

Another 'pal' of Nicola Sturgeon, who was elected as an SNP MP is Margaret Ferrier. When news came out that that Ferrier allegedly travelled from Glasgow to London in the knowledge she had symptoms of coronavirus, she was thrown under the bus by Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. Normally this wouldn't happen, unfortunately for Ferrier, the SNP were trying to portray Nicola Sturgeon as a Mother Theresa of Scotland. You can see the problem straight away, anything that contradicts the narrative that Nicola Sturgeon is a warm caring human being who deeply cares about the 'little people' must be erased. Hence, there was 'no room at the inn' for Margaret Ferrier, for her, it was banishment. At the same time, we should remember how Nicola Sturgeon has acted towards her other SNP MPs. Patricia Gibson and Patrick Grady, both accused of inappropriate behaviour with young SNP staff. Grady was alleged to have groped two male researchers. 

One thing for certain is that the SNP will not be taking any action prior to the Westminster 2024 election against him, they didn't act against Derek Mackay. Mackay was accused of allegedly grooming a 16 year old boy, so the SNP let the clock run down on Holyrood, and he walked away. The modus operandi of SNP politicians et al who are close to Nicola Sturgeon is to protect them at the expense of the victims. Another reason why the SNP wouldn't act is that Glasgow is set to lose a seat in the boundary changes. In the meantime, Grady it appears will continue to gobble down at Westminster as much as he can. Who knows maybe he turns up at the Scottish Government as a spad or at an SNP funded NGO. Nicola Sturgeon needs allies, however, giving the allegations of allegedly groping two male researchers, you have to ask, what kind of person would want to go campaigning with him? 

The trial of Scots MP Margaret Ferrier will start in August, as to a defence, I think I would be minded to go down the road of medical incapacity, that's brain fog to you and the those in the cheap seats. One symptom of covid is brain fog which clouds a person's judgment, it is also documented, and here is a link to read online. 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-covid-19-brain-fog-and-how-can-you-clear-it-2021030822076 

Her defence pops up, says illness, makes a technical fight of not guilty by reason of illness, gives the jury a slew of documents, maybe an expert witness or two, if the budget stretches to it, and throws herself on the mercy of the jury. Not guilty by reason of impairment is a pretty good defence, it is better than 'I did it' but I thought it was okay which doesn't hold water. In the event of a not guilty verdict, especially if it is acquittal by reason of ill health, chances are the SNP 'welcome' her back. When I say welcome, I don't mean 'welcome' as you traditionally understand it. Of course, if she does go back in, she will no doubt be looking to integrate herself back in asap, as a good little sheep. On the inside, she will bide her time waiting to back the next SNP leader, post Sturgeon by making herself useful. 

Margaret Ferrier is alleged to have made several journeys having been told to self-isolate between September 26 and 29, 2020. So, you can see that the medical defence of brain fog really is the most viable option. Of course, she wouldn't be in this mess if she had stayed off work, or not been tested. SNP politicians aren't the brightest, cunning like rats for sure, but similar to rats, in their quest for food and resources for themselves. 

You can go through Ferrier's timeline, she went here, she went there, and although trips to the Lifestyle Leisure centre, Sweet P Boutique, Vanilla Salon, Grace and Flavour, Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, St Mungo’s Church, Glasgow and Vic’s Bar in Prestwick, Ayrshire might prove interesting, it isn't really that interesting. Every day, infected people were they are vaxxed or not are walking among us, they have been walking among us continuously for the past two years. Anyone saying we should bring them to court? Another point is covid itself, it is said that a live strain of the virus hasn't been isolated, in other words, if she is guilty of spreading covid, the prosecution would have to prove a live strain of the virus exists. In the same way if a person is shot dead, the prosecution has to produce the gun. For all we know, and it could be argued, Ferrier could have been the victim of false tests. False test is another string to the bow of her defence, and there is plenty of  evidence to be sourced that they exist. If it was me, I would be putting my money on not proven by arguing several issues. To me the prosecution case is rather weak, but as they are looking over their shoulder at the SNP looking at them for a conviction, at least in public, they will jump through the hoops. 

If you don't want to find yourself in this position, don't get tested. 

Indy supporter Paul Kavanagh  (stroke survivor) is defending Ferrier, he said: 

“She pleads not guilty. The trial will only take four to five days at most. Most of the evidence will be capable of agreement.” 

Prosecutor Mark Allan said: 

“Due to the pandemic, the trial will not be fixed for a number of months. A pre-trial hearing will be useful. There are number of civilian witnesses with significant commitments to parliament that will require to be worked around.” 

The witnesses evidence will be they saw her, but they don't know the medical evidence or if there is evidence of a false positive. Having them there, aside from the drama in my mind will produce nothing of real significance. It isn't like they did a medical exam of Ferrier is it. In a trial, there is such a thing for convicting as Mens Rea, this refers to criminal intent. The literal translation from Latin is "guilty mind." If Ferrier's defence is brain fog, if she says she wasn't trained to administer the test, if the issue of false positive is raised, I would p[ut her at an 80% chance of beating the rap. Because anything she said to the 'witnesses' is a layman's opinion on health, so their evidence to me is probably more like circumstantial. We will just have to wait till August and get some microwave popcorn and settle in for the 'match'. Ferrier’s bail was also granted meantime which means she like you, or me, or anyone else could be infected, and spreading it around like confetti. The pandemic is over, so testing is a waste of time, we are now in the middle of flu season, which is epidemic. I don't like justice being abused, and the Ferrier trial in my mind is a waste of time, money and resources.