Sheridan trial- 'I've spent £200,000 sex tape cash but I wasn't bought off', says witness

A PROSECUTION witness against Tommy Sheridan has spent £200,000 he received from a Sunday newspaper, but denied his evidence had been bought.

• Gail and Tommy Sheridan arrive at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday Picture: PA Wire

George McNeilage, 46, alleged he secretly filmed Sheridan discussing "the biggest mistake of my life", and rejected accusations by the former MSP that the tape was a fake.

He conceded some footage had been deleted, but laughed off suggestions an actor had departed from the script or that co-conspirators had come into view.

"Fantasy land, Tommy … the tape is bona fide and you know that," Mr McNeilage said.

He insisted the recording was made at his home in Glasgow in late 2004, shortly after the News of the World had carried lurid allegations about an unnamed MSP. Mr McNeilage said Sheridan had admitted to him privately that he was the MSP, but had refused to speak to others who had been supporters of the Scottish Socialist Party in Sheridan's heartland of Pollok, Glasgow.

"People in Pollok were wanting to know what was happening. As far as I was concerned you owed them an explanation," he told Sheridan during cross-examination at the High Court in Glasgow.

"You got the political kudos, but you were not there. Instead of opening gala days, you would rather go and play football with celebrities. I had to tell porkies about where you were."

Mr McNeilage said he was so shocked by the way Sheridan had spoken about individuals that he decided against showing the film to anyone, except one friend, a fellow SSP member.

He kept the tape until 2006, when Sheridan won a defamation case against the News of the World, and branded as "scabs" former colleagues who had given evidence against him.

Mr McNeilage approached the News of the World, he said, and negotiated a 200,000 payment for the tape. He also received an initial 1,500 cash payment so he and his children could escape the glare of publicity when the tape was revealed by the paper. He had a week in a caravan at "damp and dreary" Flamingoland theme park.

The tape Mr McNeilage had handed over had about ten minutes missing.He had recorded over that section because he had "lost the plot" with Sheridan and mentioned a lot of names, including Sheridan's wife, Gail, her parents and his mother, and "everybody you were going to put through hell".

Sheridan challenged Mr McNeilage that he was a dishonest man and that the tape was a concocted effort, and that former colleagues Alan McCombes and Keith Baldassara were involved.

"That's untrue… nobody was involved in making the tape," said Mr McNeilage.

Sheridan asked: "What have you done with the 200,000?"

Mr McNeilage said: "I spent it."

Sheridan said he had never met Mr McNeilage in the house where the tape was allegedly filmed.

Sheridan added: "You are a dishonest and disloyal person and you would say anything for your money, including lies."

Mr McNeilage said: "My loyalty was never to you. It was to what we were involved in."

Sheridan: "Your testimony has been bought."

Mr McNeilage: "No, not at all."

The trial continues.