BA suspends Sheridan's wife over stolen drink allegations

Published on Saturday 23 February 2008 00:13

THE wife of Tommy Sheridan, the former leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, has been suspended from her job as an air hostess over allegations of theft, it emerged last night.

Gail Sheridan, 44, was reportedly suspended by British Airways yesterday morning over the alleged theft of miniature bottles of alcohol.

It comes days after she was charged with perjury in connection with the defamation case her husband won against the News of the World in 2006.

The Sheridans' home in the Cardonald area of Glasgow was searched as part of the investigation in December.

BA is understood to have taken action after being contacted by Lothian and Borders Police, which is carrying out an inquiry into conflicting evidence heard during the 23-day trial at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

It is understood that Mrs Sheridan has denied any allegations of wrongdoing. She has worked for BA for 23 years.

Mrs Sheridan, her husband and five others have been charged with perjury over the case, which saw Mr Sheridan, 43, awarded 200,000 damages. The paper claimed that the former MSP was a serial adulterer and swinger who used drugs.

Mrs Sheridan and her father, Angus Healy, 71, were charged on Tuesday after being questioned for hours at Edinburgh's Gayfield Police Station.

Mr Sheridan was charged with perjury in December.

Three colleagues who gave evidence during the hearing were charged earlier this month. They are the former Scottish Socialist MSP Rosemary Byrne, Solidarity's national secretary, Graeme McIver, and a party member, Jock Penman.

A spokesman for BA confirmed Mrs Sheridan was still an employee with the company. He added: "A member of our cabin crew has been suspended as part of an ongoing investigation."

Lothian and Borders Police refused to comment. A solicitor, Aamer Anwar, who is representing Mr Sheridan, said: "Mr and Mrs Sheridan have already stated their anger at the manner in which they have been treated by the police. They deny any allegations of criminality and are determined to clear their names."