Natalie McGarry tells jury she ‘spent hundreds on private bills’

This included work McGarry did for numerous organisations together with Girls for Independence (WFI) in addition to talking occasions round Scotland.

The general complete got here to £3815 which McGarry agreed in proof was not an “correct determine”.

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

McGarry is claimed to have embezzled £21,000 whereas treasurer for Girls for Independence between April 26, 2013 and November 30, 2015.

A second cost states McGarry took £4661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convenor of Glasgow Regional Affiliation (GRA) of the SNP.

McGarry – of Clarkston, East Renfrewshire – denies the 2 costs at Glasgow Sheriff Court docket.

The courtroom was proven the spreadsheet of quite a few entries of occasions McGarry was concerned in between 2013 and 2014.

The 2013 occasions had been famous by McGarry’s Fb posts. 

McGarry remarked: “It simply exhibits how busy I used to be and WFI was at attending occasions.”

McGarry claimed that her 2014 diary which had been seized by police helped her coordinate her whereabouts in the course of the 12 months.

She stated: “I would not know what I used to be doing until it was proper in entrance of me.

“It was necessary to me because it advised me every little thing I used to be doing on the time.”

McGarry’s spreadsheet confirmed that she attended at Sure Rutherglen assembly in February 2014.

There was additionally £1800 for a WFI promotional video in addition to £100 for room rent at Glasgow’s Pearce Institute.

Actress Elaine C. Smith, who appeared within the video, had her transport included within the listing of bills.

McGarry additionally had conferences with then first minister Alex Salmond in addition to aunt and former Holyrood speaker Tricia Marwick which she didn’t declare as an expense.

McGarry said that she spent £153 on a visit to Edinburgh for a gathering on Sky Information with Dominic Murnaghan which ended up not going down.

McGarry claimed that she had one other occasion deliberate elsewhere later that day.

She added: “By the point Sky deserted the programme, it wasn’t going to occur as there was nobody who may take my place.”

McGarry had a gathering with singer Eddie Reader on April 1, 2014, which she didn’t declare as an expense.

She did declare £18.30 as an expense after showing on Japanese TV.

McGarry claimed husband David Meikle drove her to varied areas throughout 2014.

This included a 47-mile journey to Tarbet, Argyll and Bute, in relation to an independence occasion.

She stated: “Regardless that we had been on separate sides of the talk, he waited outdoors for 3 hours in Tarbet.”

Different bills on McGarry’s spreadsheet included £11.25 milage for a Greenock newspaper interview in addition to £57.50 for transport to Carnoustie for a WFI associated video.

McGarry additionally claimed to have spent additional money within the run as much as the independence referendum.

She remarked on a Glasgow occasion: “That day exemplified it. We had been stuffed with pleasure of pondering that we may win, we had been talking to individuals – it voted sure and it felt like that, it was a extremely good day.”

McGarry claimed that she appeared in Barcelona, the Basque Nation and Syria following the referendum as a WFI consultant for the New World Summit. 

A closing complete was amounted to £3815.64.

Defence agent Mr MacLeod requested: “Do you agree that complete just isn’t an correct determine, do you settle for that?”

McGarry replied: “I agree there needs to be issues that needs to be taken off.”

She agreed this included journey paid for by the BBC for appearances for which she was reimbursed.

Mr MacLeod requested how gadgets akin to badges and leaflets had been paid for.

McGarry replied: “A number of alternative ways, it relied on what we had been doing at that time limit. Issues had been bought in money once we had money. 

“Trying via my checking account is under no circumstances a document of purchases for WFI as loads of issues had been bought with money.”

The trial continues earlier than sheriff Tom Hughes.