A former SNP MP who embezzled almost £ 25,000 from two pro-independence groups has been jailed for two years
Natalie McGarry, 40, who represented Glasgow East between 2015 and 2017, was convicted of two counts of embezzlement, totaling £ 24,635, in May following a trial in Glasgow Sheriff’s Court.
A jury found her guilty by a majority of £ 19,974 embezzlement charge while she was treasurer of Women for Independence (WFI) between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015.
She was also found guilty by a majority of a second charge of taking £ 4,661 between 9 April 2014 and 10 August 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association of ‘SNP.
Condemning McGarry, Sheriff Tom Hughes said he had betrayed people who trusted her and that a prison sentence was inevitable.
“You betrayed the trust placed in you”
He told him: “It is quite clear that society has a right to expect the highest standards from those who seek and eventually get high public office.”
He added: “Through your role in these crimes, you have not only betrayed the trust placed by others in you, but your standards have fallen far short of what the public should be entitled to expect from parliamentarians.”
During the six-week trial, the court heard dozens of witnesses, including former Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman, who said she sued McGarry after noticing a significant deficit in WFI accounts.
Ms Freeman said she had no idea the donations made to the Crowdfunder of the group’s independence went from the organization’s PayPal account to McGarry’s personal bank account.
He also expressed frustration at McGarry’s delay in delivering receipts and invoices that would show where the funds had been spent.