Lanarkshire COVID rule break MP given community service as she walks free from court

Margaret Ferrier has walked free from courtroom after breaching coronavirus guidelines by travelling by prepare regardless of understanding she had the virus.

The previous SNP MP spoke within the Homes of Parliament in September 2020 whereas awaiting the outcomes of a COVID take a look at.

The 62 year-old then took the prepare from London to Glasgow after being advised she had examined optimistic.

Ferrier - now an unbiased MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West - may have confronted a attainable jail-term as she returned to the dock at this time.

She had pled responsible final month at Glasgow Sheriff Courtroom to culpably and recklessly exposing the general public to the virus.

Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull advised Ferrier that he had determined towards imposing a jail sentence.

He as an alternative ordered her to hold out 270 hours of unpaid work inside a nine-month interval.

The time period was minimize from 300 hours because of her responsible plea.

Margaret Ferrier MP (Picture: PRU/AFP through Getty Photographs)

Sheriff Turnbull advised Ferrier: "You wilfully disregarded the steerage and didn't self-isolate after your take a look at.

"Your behaviour was deliberate and prolonged over plenty of days.

"The gravity of hurt that would have resulted out of your actions may have been vital."

Ferrier - sporting a face-mask in courtroom - went on to verify to the sheriff that she would conform to the phrases of the neighborhood payback order.

Prosecutor Mark Allan advised the sooner listening to how Ferrier booked a COVID take a look at on-line on September 26 2020.

The then nationalist politician acknowledged she was "symptomatic" with a cough.

Ferrier went on to go to a take a look at centre at Glasgow's Caledonian College.

Mr Allan mentioned: "Ferrier subsequently didn't isolate pending the end result of her take a look at.

"The conduct amounted to a reckless disregard of public security."

Scotland was below strict directions on the time which Ferrier ignored which the courtroom was advised was a "reckless disregard for public security.

Ferrier attended a noon mass at St Mungo's parish church in Glasgow the following day the place she gave a studying to the congregation of 45 individuals.

Social distancing measures had been in place and Ferrier wore a masks when she was not talking.

Ferrier then attended Vic's Bar in Prestwick, Ayrshire the place she stayed for two-and-a-half hours.

Ferrier took a 10-to-15-minute taxi journey from her dwelling in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, to Glasgow Central station the following day whereas sporting a face masks.

The politician entered a Marks and Spencer on the station earlier than boarding a prepare with 183 individuals on board to London Euston.

Ferrier checked into the Park Plaza Resort, Westminster Bridge, earlier than attending the Homes of Parliament at 7.15pm.

Mr Allan mentioned: "She spoke within the chamber of the of the commons the place social distancing was in operation and other than when talking, she wore a face masks."

Ferrier sat at a desk normally allotted for SNP members with DUP MP Jim Shannon the place they conversed for 20 minutes.

Mr Allan mentioned: "The optimistic outcome from the take a look at was delivered at 8.03pm by textual content and e-mail.

"She attended the SNP whips' workplace and spoke to then chief whip Patrick Grady MP.

"She knowledgeable Mr Grady that she would return to Scotland within the morning."

Ferrier returned to her lodge at 9.20pm the place she spent the evening earlier than heading again to London Euston.

The listening to was advised at its busiest time, the prepare held 153 passengers.

Contact tracers for NHS Check and Shield tried to contact Ferrier on 4 events however had been unable to take action leaving two voicemails.

Ferrier later contacted Check and Shield and disclosed that she had a "slight and rare cough" the day earlier than her take a look at.

Mr Allan added: "She mentioned she didn't consider that she can be optimistic."

Ferrier then knowledgeable Mr Grady and the Parliamentary Check and Hint service that she was optimistic.

This led to Mr Shannon being ordered to take a take a look at and isolate in his lodge room - he later examined unfavorable.

Mr Grady was advised the next day at a gathering on the Speaker's Workplace within the Home of Commons that Ferrier's actions required to be reported to the police.

Ferrier contacted police and knowledgeable them of her breach earlier than sending out an announcement on her social media.

She mentioned: "Regardless of feeling effectively, I ought to have self-isolated whereas ready for my take a look at outcome and deeply remorse my actions.

"I take full duty and I urge everybody to not make the identical errors that I've and do all they'll to restrict the unfold of COVID-19."

An preliminary investigation from Metropolitan Police was handed over to Police Scotland.

Public well being professional Dr Andrew Riley advised the police that Ferrier "considerably elevated the danger of hurt to each particular person and public well being."

Ferrier handed herself in to police on January 4, 2021 the place she was arrested.

Her SNP whip eliminated when allegations emerged. She got here below strain to resign from her seat, however stays as a MP.

Her KC at this time advised the courtroom that Ferrier had "satisfied herself" the take a look at can be unfavorable and that there can be no hazard.

There had then been "uncontrolled panic" when it got here again optimistic.

Brian McConnachie, defending, added: "It was 48 hours of poor choices in a lifetime of in any other case a whole observance and upholding of the legislation."

The advocate additionally referred to COVID lockdown breaches in Westminster.

Mr McConnachie: "There have been plenty of excessive profile instances down south having been handled in a unique method.

"I recognise that, in some methods, they're completely different (from Ferrier).

"On one view much less critical, however, on one other, extra so in that there have been pubic gatherings happening for enjoyable successfully."

The KC mentioned 34 testimonials had been written on Ferrier's behalf together with one from Jim Shannon.

He added Ferrier will probably lose her seat on the subsequent election because of her being an unbiased.

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