Wife backs husband in defamation case

A POLITICIAN’S wife yesterday told a jury she would have been in court on a murder charge if her husband had cheated on her, visited a swingers’ club and had taken part in orgies.

Gail Sheridan, 42, broke down in the witness box as she told former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan of her pride at the way he has conducted himself during his defamation action against the News Of The World.

Mr Sheridan, who is representing himself, brought the case against the newspaper after it printed articles which said he visited a swingers club and took part in orgies.

He wiped away tears as he concluded the examination of his wife at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

The air stewardess spent an hour and 15 minutes giving evidence on day 19 of her husband’s £200,000 (€290,000) action against the tabloid.

The politician asked his wife if she would have given evidence if she believed accusations against him.

She replied: “There is no way I would be here.

“Neither would you. You would be in the Clyde with a piece of concrete tied round you and I would be in court for your murder.

“I can assure you of that right now.”

She wept as she added: “I have been proud of you all my life but I have never, never been more proud of you than I have the last four weeks in this court.

“You are taking them on, The News Of The World, and you’re taking the legal establishment on.

“I have never been more proud of you.”

As Mrs Sheridan tried to regain her composure her husband told the court: “No further questions.”

The MSP then sat down and wiped away tears.