Paul McBride
Encyclopedia
Paul McBride QC
is a Scottish
criminal lawyer based in Edinburgh
. He is a board member of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, and a former Vice Chairman of the Faculty of Advocates
Criminal Bar Association.
from the age of 16. He graduated with an LLB aged 19, and joined a solicitors firm in Ayrshire
. After completing his two-year traineeship with the firm he deviled
for 9 months. He joined the Bar
in 1988 and was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 2000 aged 35, the youngest in the UK.
of contempt of court in July 2008, and Gail Sheridan of perjury in HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan
. When he was appointed to the latter case the Daily Record
called it a "legal dream team".
In 2009, McBride defended Rangers
and Scotland
goalkeeper Allan McGregor
on sex attack claims which never reached court.
Since 2010, McBride has represented Celtic F.C.
on a number of legal and disciplinary matters. He issued statements to the press about incidents that involved Celtic and defended Celtic's staff in court including touchline bans for their manager, drink driving charges, charges of child neglect and speaking out about football officials. In 2011 McBride compared death threats towards Neil Lennon
to terrorist actions and internet child paedophilia.
In April 2011, McBride branded the SFA
"the laughing stock of world football", and "not merely dysfunctional and dishonest, but biased". This statement came after an SFA disciplinary hearing involving three members of Rangers
staff. McBride later apologised for the remarks after the SFA had threatened legal action and had made a formal complaint to the Faculty of Advocates
.
. Active in politics, in April 2009 McBride made a high-profile defection from the Scottish Labour Party
to the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
.
In April 2011, McBride, Neil Lennon
and Trish Godman
, public figures all connected with Celtic, were sent parcel bombs. The device sent to McBride was intercepted by Royal Mail
at a depot in Kilwinning
.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
criminal lawyer based in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He is a board member of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, and a former Vice Chairman of the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
Criminal Bar Association.
Education
McBride attended St Aloysius' College, Glasgow and thereafter studied law at the University of StrathclydeUniversity of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
from the age of 16. He graduated with an LLB aged 19, and joined a solicitors firm in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
. After completing his two-year traineeship with the firm he deviled
Devilling
Devilling is the period of training, pupillage or junior work undertaken by a person wishing to become an advocate in one of the legal systems of the United Kingdom or Ireland.-Scotland:...
for 9 months. He joined the Bar
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1988 and was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 2000 aged 35, the youngest in the UK.
Legal career
McBride has often represented high-profile clients in controversial criminal cases. He led the legal teams which won the acquittal of human rights lawyer Aamer AnwarAamer Anwar
Aamer Anwar is a Scottish lawyer of Pakistani background. He is noted for his left-wing political views and his support for Stop the War Coalition and the campaigns against the 31st G8 summit and Dungavel Detention Centre for failed Asylum seekers....
of contempt of court in July 2008, and Gail Sheridan of perjury in HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan
HM Advocate v Sheridan and Sheridan
Her Majesty's Advocate v Thomas Sheridan and Gail Sheridan was the 2010 criminal prosecution of Tommy Sheridan, a former Member of the Scottish Parliament and his wife Gail Sheridan for perjury in relation to the earlier civil case Sheridan v News Group Newspapers.In Scotland criminal prosecutions...
. When he was appointed to the latter case the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
called it a "legal dream team".
In 2009, McBride defended Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
goalkeeper Allan McGregor
Allan McGregor
Allan James McGregor is a Scottish association footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Rangers and the Scotland national team...
on sex attack claims which never reached court.
Since 2010, McBride has represented Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
on a number of legal and disciplinary matters. He issued statements to the press about incidents that involved Celtic and defended Celtic's staff in court including touchline bans for their manager, drink driving charges, charges of child neglect and speaking out about football officials. In 2011 McBride compared death threats towards Neil Lennon
Neil Lennon
Neil Francis Lennon is a former footballer from Northern Ireland. He is the current manager and former captain of Celtic....
to terrorist actions and internet child paedophilia.
In April 2011, McBride branded the SFA
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
"the laughing stock of world football", and "not merely dysfunctional and dishonest, but biased". This statement came after an SFA disciplinary hearing involving three members of Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
staff. McBride later apologised for the remarks after the SFA had threatened legal action and had made a formal complaint to the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
.
Outside Law
McBride is a fan of football club CelticCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. Active in politics, in April 2009 McBride made a high-profile defection from the Scottish Labour Party
Scottish Labour Party
The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland....
to the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party is the part of the British Conservative Party that operates in Scotland. Like the UK party, it has a centre-right political philosophy which promotes conservatism and strong British Unionism...
.
In April 2011, McBride, Neil Lennon
Neil Lennon
Neil Francis Lennon is a former footballer from Northern Ireland. He is the current manager and former captain of Celtic....
and Trish Godman
Trish Godman
Patricia "Trish" Godman is a misandrist and Scottish Labour politician. She was Member of the Scottish Parliament for West Renfrewshire constituency from the Scottish Parliament general election, 1999 until her retirement in 2011.Before entering the Scottish Parliament Godman was a Glasgow City...
, public figures all connected with Celtic, were sent parcel bombs. The device sent to McBride was intercepted by Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
at a depot in Kilwinning
Kilwinning
Kilwinning is a historic town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is known as The Crossroads of Ayrshire. The 2001 Census recorded it as having a population of 15,908.-History:...
.