Sheridan court appeal put on hold

Tommy Sheridan won £200,000 in damages

A News of the World appeal against Tommy Sheridan's libel victory against the paper has been put on hold.

The newspaper is seeking to overturn the verdict, after being ordered to pay Mr Sheridan £200,000.

Judges agreed that the proceedings should be suspended at a hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

The decision means the case will now be suspended until the Crown inquiry into perjury allegations resulting from the case is resolved.

Mr Sheridan won a high-profile libel victory over the paper after it printed allegations about his sex life.

Perjury allegations

The 23-day trial, in which several members of the Scottish Socialist Party gave evidence against him, led to a split, with Mr Sheridan later establishing the rival party Solidarity.

Prosecution authorities later instructed the police to investigate allegations of perjury by witnesses during the trial.

Following Tuesday's decision Mr Sheridan, the leader of the left-wing Solidarity party and a former MSP, said he was confident the newspaper would not succeed in its appeal.

"A jury of Scots people found in my favour last year and I am confident they will do so in the future," he said.

A News of the World spokesman said: "We are happy with the court's decision and we are confident our stories will be vindicated."