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by Connor Gordon
20 April 2022
Natalie McGarry couldn't have made rent payments without independence funds, court hears

Natalie McGarry couldn't have made rent payments without independence funds, court hears

A forensic police accountant said Natalie McGarry would not have been able to make rent payments without PayPal funds from a Scottish independence organisation.

McGarry, 40, who represented Glasgow East at Westminster for the SNP, allegedly stole more than £25,000 from two organisations advocating for Scottish independence between April 2013 and August 2015.

McGarry allegedly embezzled £21,000 while treasurer of Women for Independence between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015.

Chartered accountant Kenneth Murray, 60, told jurors he compiled a forensic accountancy report on WFI payments to McGarry. 

Prosecutor Alistair Mitchell displayed McGarry’s bank statement from March 2014 which showed a balance of £10.84.

PayPal withdrawals from WFI were then shown to enter her bank account the next day followed by a rent payment. 

Mitchell asked if it would have been possible to make the payment without the transfer from PayPal.

Murray replied: “No, there is a balance of £10.84 before March 3 and the PayPal withdrawals amount to £1,700 and there is a payment of £1,000 which was funded by PayPal withdrawals.”

Similar transactions were also seen to be made in further months throughout the year.

Other debts such as £197.62 to Amigo Loans and money paid to Shona McAlpine and Julie Tarbett were seen to be made after PayPal withdrawals were made.

Mitchell asked: “Without the transfers, she couldn’t make these payments?”

Murray replied: “Yes, they’re all funded essentially by PayPal credits.”

A £600 payment to Humza Yousaf was shown on a bank statement in April 2014.

The witness earlier took jurors through his forensic accountancy report on the WFI bank account. 

Murray said in the report: “There was no formal process or control as to how the finances were managed.”

A table showed that McGarry’s personal account received £67,293 from WFI’s PayPal, cheques and three fundraisers.

Murray's report stated that from June to December 2014, PayPal and fundraiser money was used to fund McGarry's personal rent payments. 

It was also revealed that two PayPal transfers of £1,050 and £650 were made to McGarry.

Murray said these were then transferred to David Meikle at the end of August and start of September 2014.

Murray said: “There was no regular income to her account prior to the General Election."

He said: "Through that period between April 2014 and April 2015, looking for specific income, there is none in the form of a salary or regular payment."

Mitchell asked: "Until she became an MP?"

"Yes," Murray replied.

A second charge states McGarry took £4,661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convenor of Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP.

McGarry denies the two charges.

The trial continues before Sheriff Tom Hughes.

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