Sheridan's wife Gail charged with perjury

Mr Sheridan, who won 200,000 in damages from the newspaper in August 2006, was charged with perjury in December. Three political colleagues – former MSP Rosemary Byrne, Graeme McIver and Jock Penman, who all gave evidence in the defamation case – were charged last week.

Lothian and Borders Police began an investigation into allegations of perjury in the wake of the 23-day trial at Edinburgh's Court of Session.

During the case, the judge, Lord Turnbull, said that conflicting evidence might lead to an inquiry. A perjury conviction can carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Mr Sheridan took his wife and father-in-law to Gayfield Police Station in Edinburgh from their home in Cardonald, Glasgow, yesterday.

They arrived in a silver Honda CRV, accompanied by a male friend, at 1:05pm. Mr Sheridan helped his wife out into the waiting 35-strong press pack. She wore sunglasses and a black fake-fur coat with boots and a green scarf, reminiscent of the glamorous outfits she wore to court.

Mr Sheridan, in a grey suit and black T-shirt with a badge reading No More War, ushered his wife into the building.

He reappeared moments later to ask journalists to stay away from his family home for the sake of his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Gabrielle.

Shortly after 7pm the couple re-emerged and Mr Sheridan launched a verbal attack on the police. He said: "Lothian and Borders Police have detained a grandfather for over four hours and charged him with perjury.

"They have also detained a 44-year-old mother of one who has never been in trouble in her life for more than six hours and have charged her with perjury.

"It would appear the streets of Edinburgh … must be crime-free that the police have so much time on their hands that they can harass a family and a group of people who have committed no crime other than be friends or relatives of mine. As a family, we are outraged at the way we have been treated. But we are absolutely determined we will fight on."

The firebrand politician, who left the SSP to set up the Solidarity party, sued the News of the World over allegations that he was a serial adulterer and drug-taking swinger.

A jury awarded him damages following a dramatic trial which saw him sack his legal team.

Giving evidence, his wife had said her husband "would be in the Clyde with a piece of concrete tied round him" if she thought there was any truth to the claim.

Mr Healy gave him an alibi on two occasions when it was alleged he had participated in a threesome in a hotel.

BREEZY SMILES HID TEARS

CUTTING a glamorous swathe, Gail Sheridan, wife of Scottish socialist Tommy Sheridan, is rarely seen with a hair out of place.

Immaculately dressed, she has stood by her husband's side despite claims he cheated on her.

During the trial she accompanied him daily to court with an ever-present breezy smile for the cameras.

However, behind closed doors she claims to have collapsed in tears and nearly lost their unborn daughter, Gabrielle, who is now two, due to the stress.

The former air hostess from Govan showed a sense of humour when she spoke out about the hairiness of her husband, describing him as "like a monkey".

And she said he would have ended up at the bottom of the River Clyde if she had ever suspected he was cheating on her.

Gail first met Tommy when they were pupils at Lourdes Academy in Glasgow, but they only became a couple years later.