Tommy Sheridan’s application for review of his conviction for perjury was submitted to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission on June 10th.
The Commission has now agreed to review the conviction and the case has been allocated to a senior legal officer for investigation.
It is anticipated that the investigation will take some months to complete. When it has concluded its investigation, the Commission will decide whether the case is to be referred to the High Court for a full appeal hearing to take place.
Tommy Sheridan’s solicitor Gordon Dangerfield said:
“ I’m very pleased at the Commission’s very prompt decision to review the conviction. This is obviously an important step forward in the process of having Tommy’s conviction appealed and overturned. I consider that the evidence we have gathered in support of the appeal is utterly compelling.
“In my view, that evidence demonstrates very clearly that the conviction was a shocking miscarriage of justice, and I’m very much looking forward to the Commission’s own independentinvestigation and decision.”
Tommy Sheridan said today:
“It has taken a frustratingly long time to progress but at last the SCCRC has the files and my appeal against conviction has been assessed and considered worthy of more detailed analysis. I am absolutely confident my unsafe conviction will eventually be quashed and my name will be cleared.
“The powerful and well connected liars who coordinated my stitch up will hopefully themselves soon face justice and criminal prosecutions for their efforts to ruin other people’s lives with lies, distortions and illegal activities.
“The criminal News of the World shamed the profession of journalism and was rightfully closed down. I will continue to fight the lies and distortions of the powerful gutter press with truth. I look forward to the SCCRC recommendation at the end of March next year.”