Personal injury news

Policewoman receives six-figure sum
after compensation claim

A former policewoman who was wrongly accused of perjury during a murder trial has been awarded a six-figure sum after making a compensation claim.

Shirley McKie spent nine difficult years trying to clear her name, even contemplating suicide at one point, but was finally made the offer of £750,000 in an out-of-court settlement in Edinburgh. She has since called for a public inquiry and has accused officials of a cover-up.

She had been a 33-year-old detective constable with a promising future when she was accused of leaving her thumbprint at the home of a murder victim who had died of serious personal injuries in 1997. There was no suggestion that she was actually involved in the murder, but questions were raised over her integrity when she denied setting foot in the house during the trial of the suspected murderer.

The suspect was later found not guilty, Ms Mckie was ostracised by her colleagues for undermining the fingerprint evidence that was needed for a conviction, and was then accused of perjury.

She was eventually cleared by a jury of lying under oath after experts from the US argued that the print was not hers. As a result, she made a compensation claim for £1.2million against the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Criminal Records Office, but settled for £750,000 just hours before the case was due to go to trial at the Court of Sessions in Edinburgh.

Speaking on the steps of the court, Shirley McKie said, "I just wish someone had come to their senses a long, long time ago."