Natalie McGarry, a former SNP MP, was jailed after embezzling PS25,000 from both the SNP (and a pro-independence organization).
The sentence was for two years.
Last month, she was found guilty of embezzling PS19.974 as treasurer of Women For Independence, and PS4,661 as treasurer, secretary, and convener for the Glasgow Regional Association.
McGarry was the Glasgow East MP between 2015-2017.
Sheriff Tom Hughes sentenced McGarry and said that she had betrayed people who trusted her, and that a custodial sentence would have to follow.
He said to her, “It is quite clear that society can expect the highest standards of those who seek and ultimately achieve high-ranking public office.”
He said, “Through the role you played in these offences you have not only betrayed trust placed in your by others, but also your standards have fallen far short of what the public should expect from MPs.”
McGarry was convicted of embezzlement in December 2019. Judges ruled that she had been misrepresented.
After three hours of deliberations, however, the jury returned majority verdicts for two charges last month.
During the second six-week Glasgow Sheriff Court trial, it was alleged that McGarry used some of the money for expenses like rent and shopping.
Although her legal team admitted to her financial disorganization and chaos, she denies both of these charges.
A number of witnesses were called before the court, including Jeane Freeman, Scotland’s former health secretary, who claimed that she reported McGarry to her after seeing a significant drop in WFI accounts.
Ms. Freeman stated that she didn’t know donations to the group’s independence crowdfunding were being transferred from McGarry’s PayPal account to her personal bank account.
She expressed her frustration at McGarry’s inability to provide receipts and invoices that would clearly show the expenditures.
Witnesses also testified that McGarry was in financial trouble and received loans from friends and family.
This included Humza Yousaf (current Scottish health secretary), who gave McGarry PS600 in order to stop her being evicted.
McGarry also had McGarry’s bank records examined by the court. These records showed that WFI crowdfunder donations were transferred to McGarry’s personal account.
McGarry stated that these were legitimate expenses she had incurred, and she was paying herself back for them.
In late 2015, a WFI financial probe discovered a gap in income and expenditure of PS31.824. The matter was reported to police.
McGarry paid back PS6,436.21 on September 2015, which was funded by a PS6,500 loan from an acquaintance.
McGarry pleaded guilty to embezzlement in the 2019 trial. He later tried to withdraw his guilty pleas.
She did not plead guilty to another embezzlement case.
In that trial, her lawyer stated that she had had mental health problems over the years including anxiety and depression, as well as postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter in November 2017.
After appealing, she was sentenced to 18-months in prison. She was released on bail just a few days later.
McGarry was elected in 2015 as an SNP MP, but she resigned her position as party whip after being accused of making false allegations.
In 2017, she did not run for re-election.
