Natalie McGarry: Former minister gives evidence in ex-MP's trial

Jeane Freeman gave evidence in the trial of Natalie McGarry

Former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman has told a jury she "trusted" ex-SNP MP Natalie McGarry to run an independence organisation's finances.

Natalie McGarry, 40, who represented Glasgow East, denies allegedly embezzling more than £25,000 from two Scottish independence organisations.

The allegations cover the period between April 2013 and August 2015.

Ms Freeman, 68, said Ms McGarry was put in control of the finances of Women For Independence (WFI) in Spring 2013.

The charge claims Ms McGarry embezzled £21,000 between April 2013 and November 2015 while she was WFI treasurer.

The period covered the build-up to and aftermath of the Scottish independence referendum in September 2014.

• Former SNP MP accused of embezzlement

It is alleged Ms McGarry transferred cash made from fundraising events into her personal accounts and failed to send on donations intended for a food bank and a charity.

She then allegedly used cheques - held in the name of Women for Independence - to deposit money into her accounts.

The second charge is that Ms McGarry embezzled £4,661 between April 2014 and August 2015.

It is alleged that while Ms McGarry was treasurer, secretary and convenor of Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP, she used cheques drawn from its bank account to pay expenses not incurred by the group.

Ms McGarry is claimed to have retained monies intended to settle expenses incurred by others.

The charge goes on to allege Ms McGarry used cheques and money from donations to the Glasgow Regional Association to deposit money to her own accounts.

Ms McGarry, of East Renfrewshire, denies both charges.

The trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court is expected to last up to six weeks

Ms Freeman gave evidence that she and four others founded WFI in 2012.

The ex-SNP MSP said Ms McGarry became involved as the group grew, and her initial role was to organise members' dinners.

Ms Freeman said Ms McGarry took over financial matters in 2013 as the group became "more organised" but there was "no formal structure."

She added: "Natalie told of financial matters and gave reports as to how much money we had, how much was coming through and how much was raised."

It was agreed £20,823 was raised by WFI during a fundraiser between March and April 2014 which left WFI with £10,772 after deductions such as fees and refunds.

Prosecutor Alistair Mitchell asked Ms Freeman where she thought the money would be transferred. She replied: "The WFI bank account."

'Founded on trust'

Ms Freeman stated that she did not check the WFI account. Mr Mitchell asked why she did not.

She said across the organisation "we trusted each other".

Ms Freeman said a fundraiser in May 2015 raised £15,515 - taking the total money collected by the organisation to £49,816.23.

The witness stated she did know why the funds were being raised as she believed the organisation had money left from previous fundraisers.

But she said she "found it difficult" to get information from Ms McGarry, including statements and passwords for the PayPal account used for crowdfunding.

She added: "I was beginning to ask at the end of 2014 into 2015, faced with the AGM and when I saw the bank statements.

"It felt a bit more serious than just annoying."

At one point when talking about Ms McGarry's handing of WFI finances, Ms Freeman said: "My view was that there was at least the potential here of criminal behaviour."

Ms Freeman said she did not know how much was in the bank account in May 2015 and was waiting for information from Ms McGarry until November 2015.

She said Ms McGarry sent it in "dribs and drabs", some of which was left on her doorstep in a bag.

'Burying your head in the sand'

Emails were also shown to the court with Ms Freeman setting various deadlines for information to be sent.

The witness claimed fellow WFI member Carolyn Leckie visited Ms McGarry in November 2015.

An email from Ms Leckie to Ms Freeman outlining what she believed was said by Ms McGarry was read out.

It said: "You told me that the WFI PayPal account receipts and invoices are in a mess and that you have been burying your head in the sand."

It also stated £6,426 of WFI cash had been put into Ms McGarry's personal account.

Ms Freeman told the court: "I didn't know any money from WFI was in anyone's bank account."

She said she felt there was "a significant responsibility to get to the bottom of this."

Ms Leckie claimed Ms McGarry said she did not use the money for her own purposes.

The trial, before Sheriff Tom Hughes, continues.