MSP cleared of protest disruption

Mr Sheridan said the claims against him were "unconvincing"

Tommy Sheridan has been cleared of causing disruption during a protest at a Glasgow immigration centre.

Mr Sheridan, 41, was alleged to have been part of a trio who blocked guards by chaining barricades and an old fridge to gates in November last year.

The Scottish Socialist MSP was arrested along with two other men after the demo against dawn raids at the Govan centre.

The men were acquitted of breach of the peace after a five-day trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Mr Sheridan, who defended himself during the trial, branded the claims "unconvincing".

Sheridan and co-accused Stuart Kerr, 28, of Helensburgh, were found not proven.

'Woefully inadequate'

The charge against David Reilly, 27, from Whiteinch in Glasgow, was dropped by prosecutors at the end of the evidence.

Mr Sheridan told the court: "The nature of the demo was to disrupt activities at the centre. We probably did annoy members of staff.

"However, I would submit that the evidence that we have heard is woefully insufficient."

A host of witnesses spoke on their behalf, including Paddy Hill, one of the Birmingham Six freed in 1991.

He described it as "one of the most peaceful" he had been at and said he was "very surprised" at the arrests.