Mother paid her daughter to take part in sham marriage, court hears

Amanda McCourt was in a long-term relationship and heavily pregnant when she married Ghanaian Hayford Kesse in February 2007. A jury was told yesterday that the 30 year-old agreed to the ceremony after her mother, Janet Cathie, told her she could "make money".

Miss McCourt was giving evidence at the trial of Cathie, 49, who is accused of breaching immigration law by fixing three sham marriages.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard Miss McCourt had met Cathie and a number of other women at a Morrisons supermarket in the city, where the subject of weddings was brought up.

In a police statement, Miss McCourt said: "The female Donna told me that you just need your birth-lines to get married to a coloured person and that you could make a lot of money." It went on: "My mum Janet Cathie then took my birth-lines off me and told me that she would arrange that marriage and make me some money."

Prosecutor Mark McGuire yesterday asked Miss McCourt: "Did your mum say that she would arrange a marriage and make you some money?" The witness replied: "Yes."

Cathie also allegedly said that she had arranged Donna's marriage to "a coloured person" and that it was "easy to do".

The court was told Miss McCourt was initially given 60 before later being introduced to the man she was to wed. It was claimed she was joined by Cathie and man called Kofi.

A pregnant Miss McCourt and Hayford Kesse eventually married at the city's Park Circus Register Office on 9 February, 2007.

Fiscal Mr McGuire asked: "Why did you marry him?" Miss McCourt replied: "For money."

Cathie denies the charges along with an allegation that she signed a false name at another wedding. The trial continues.