This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-19409581
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Bob Bird detained by Tommy Sheridan trial probe police | Bob Bird detained by Tommy Sheridan trial probe police |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The former editor at the News of the World Scotland has been detained in connection with the defamation action of former MSP Tommy Sheridan. | |
| Bob Bird is being held on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice over Mr Sheridan's successful action against the newspaper in 2006. | |
| Strathclyde Police said a 56-year-old man had been detained in Glasgow. | Strathclyde Police said a 56-year-old man had been detained in Glasgow. |
| Officers are investigating allegations of perjury and phone hacking as part of the Operation Rubicon probe. | Officers are investigating allegations of perjury and phone hacking as part of the Operation Rubicon probe. |
| Mr Bird edited the now defunct Scottish edition of the News of the World when it ran allegations about Mr Sheridan's private life. | |
| The former MSP successfully sued the newspaper for defamation in 2006 and was awarded £200,000 damages. | |
| Defamation trial | |
| A subsequent police investigation saw Mr Sheridan charged, convicted of perjury and jailed for three years. He was released after serving just over one year of his sentence. | |
| Mr Bird gave evidence at the original defamation trial brought by Mr Sheridan in 2006 and his subsequent perjury trial at the end of 2010. | |
| The journalist was detained in Glasgow by officers from the Operation Rubicon probe in the early hours of Wednesday morning. | |
| He is being questioned at Govan Police station, at Helen Street. | |
| In a statement, the Strathclyde force said: "Officers from Operation Rubicon detained a 56-year-old man in Glasgow this morning under section 14 of the criminal procedures Scotland Act 1995 on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice arising from conduct at the time of the defamation action of Thomas Sheridan versus News Group Newspapers Limited in 2006. | |
| "It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time." | |
| A statement from the Crown Office also confirmed that Mr Bird had been detained "on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice and breaches of the data protection acts". |