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Bob Bird charged by Tommy Sheridan trial probe police | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The former editor at the News of the World Scotland has been charged in connection with the defamation action of former MSP Tommy Sheridan. | |
Bob Bird, 56, was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice over Mr Sheridan's successful action against the newspaper in 2006. | |
He was detained at his Glasgow home at 07:30 and released four hours later. | |
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. |
Speaking following his release, Mr Bird said: "I just want to say that I'm very sad, very disappointed that things have come to this. | |
"I have always done my best to do the right thing throughout the 30/40 years of my journalistic career and I will be denying the charge against me. | |
"On legal advice I can't say any more at the moment." | |
Mr Bird edited the now defunct Scottish edition of the News of the World when it ran allegations about Mr Sheridan's private life. | 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. | The former MSP successfully sued the newspaper for defamation in 2006 and was awarded £200,000 damages. |
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. | 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. | 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 at his Glasgow home by officers from the Operation Rubicon probe on Wednesday morning and questioned at Govan Police station, at Helen Street. | |
Data protection | Data protection |
In a statement, the Strathclyde force said: "Officers from Operation Rubicon at Strathclyde Police have arrested and charged a 56-year-old man with attempting to pervert the course of justice in 2006 arising from his conduct at the time of the defamation action of Thomas Sheridan v News Group Newspapers Limited. | |
"A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in Glasgow, in due course. It would be inappropriate to comment further." | |
Mr Bird is the third senior News of the World figure to be questioned by Operation Rubicon officers. | Mr Bird is the third senior News of the World figure to be questioned by Operation Rubicon officers. |
Earlier this month, Douglas Wight, a former news editor at the News of the World Scotland, was arrested and charged in connection with the perjury trial of Mr Sheridan. | Earlier this month, Douglas Wight, a former news editor at the News of the World Scotland, was arrested and charged in connection with the perjury trial of Mr Sheridan. |
The 39-year-old was charged with perjury, conspiracy to hack telephones and multiple charges of conspiracy to obtain personal data. | The 39-year-old was charged with perjury, conspiracy to hack telephones and multiple charges of conspiracy to obtain personal data. |
In May, Prime Minister David Cameron's former director of communications Andy Coulson was arrested and charged over evidence he gave at Mr Sheridan's perjury trial. | In May, Prime Minister David Cameron's former director of communications Andy Coulson was arrested and charged over evidence he gave at Mr Sheridan's perjury trial. |
The former News of the World editor was charged with committing perjury during the trial in 2010. | The former News of the World editor was charged with committing perjury during the trial in 2010. |