Partner reveals how Paul McBride, QC’s death ‘broke me’

THE partner of the late Scottish advocate Paul McBride, QC, has said his death was his “worst nightmare” and revealed he has moved to Hong Kong to try and cope with his grief.

Interior designer Gary Murphy, 38, said hearing the news “broke me”.

“That’s the best part of my life over – the rest is just an existence,” he said.

The couple wed in a civil ceremony in 2007 and lived in a flat in the West End of Glasgow.

Mr McBride, 47, died while attending a wedding in Pakistan in March.

He had gone to bed early after complaining of feeling unwell and was found by fellow lawyer Aamer Anwar the next day.

Mr Murphy said: “Every day I expect him to walk through the front door. I sent him away a happy and healthy person and he came back in a box.”

He added: “Some days I curse God for taking him away and the next day I pray. I go through all the emotions.”

As well as being the UK’s youngest ever QC at 36, Mr McBride was politically active, being associated with first Labour and then the Conservatives, before becoming disillusioned with both.

Mr Murphy revealed he had expected Mr McBride to back independence for Scotland.

He said: “He loved the idea of an independent Scotland. If he was here today, I am convinced he would have played a big part in the pro-independence movement.”

The couple had already had one scare, when Mr McBride was targeted, along with Neil Lennon and former MSP Trish Godman, in a bomb package threat.

Mr Murphy said: “We had CCTV at home and cars followed us everywhere. Paul knew he’d be in the firing line but didn’t expect that. He was more worried about the impact on his parents.”