Sheridan's former lover attempted suicide on eve of trial, court is told

Fiona McGuire put a handful of pills in her mouth, but a journalist who was chaperoning her managed to stop her swallowing them, the High Court in Glasgow was told.

Sheridan claimed to Douglas Wight, 37, who had written the story of Ms McGuire's alleged four-year fling with him, that she had produced "absolute fantasy" after money was waved under her nose.

"That is not what happened," said Mr Wight, who refuted suggestions he had a relationship with the former escort and mother-of-three from Peterhead.

The News of the World story featuring Ms McGuire's claims provoked Sheridan, 46, into launching a defamation action against the paper, which he won in the Court of Session in Edinburgh in 2006.

Now he and his wife, Gail, 46, are accused of giving perjured evidence during the litigation. Both deny the charge. Mr Wight, the News of the World's books editor, said he had been the news editor in Scotland when, in 2004, he heard from a freelance journalist that Ms McGuire had "let slip" that she was in a relationship with Sheridan.

Her allegations were eventually published under the headline: "My kinky 4-in-a-bed orgy with Tommy".

Ms McGuire was paid 20,000.

Mr Wight said he had been detailed to look after Ms McGuire in the run-up to the defamation action.

Sheridan asked: "Why did she try to commit suicide before the libel trial?"

Mr Wight said it had been on the eve of the trial and he did not regard it as an attempted suicide. It was "a kind of incident to inspire a response from us to maybe help her". He explained Ms McGuire had been harbouring fears about giving evidence in a high-profile case.

They were in a room in a hotel in Edinburgh where she was staying prior to testifying.

"She had pills or medication for on-going health issues... She said the prospect of facing someone she described as a former lover in court, she found it daunting," said Mr Wight.

"She took a handful and put them in her mouth. I do not know what her intention was. It was in the context of having to give evidence. I took her through to the bathroom and made her empty her mouth and made sure she did not swallow any pills."

Ms McGuire had been seen by a psychiatrist and deemed fit to give evidence.

Sheridan asked if Mr Wight had been having a relationship with Ms McGuire. He said: "Not at all ... I take offence at that suggestion."

Sheridan claimed that when newspapers such as the News of the World "start to wave wads of dosh about" people began to forget the truth and said whatever the journalist wanted to know."Money got waved in front of her nose and she was prepared to tell you a story that was absolute fantasy," he said.

"That is not what happened. She consistently said, and stood up in court and said, she had a four-year affair with you," replied Mr Wight.

"You knew her story was complete and utter nonsense and you were prepared to exploit that vulnerable woman with mental health problems because of your desire to screw me," said Sheridan.

"That is not true," said Mr Wight.

The trial will resume on Tuesday.