Justice Secretary, Scots law title staff to appear as witnesses in Hollie Greig abuse case as victims prepare to testify for arrested journalist

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will face court questions over Hollie Greig case. KENNY MACASKILL, Scotland’s Justice Secretary now faces being called as a witness in the forthcoming trial of journalist & broadcaster Robert Green, who was arrested last week in Aberdeen after attempting to attend a public protest in the centre of the city, concerning the now widely reported campaign of downs syndrome girl Hollie Greig, who has made consistent allegations since 2000 of an abuse ring in Aberdeen, of which she was but one of the victims. Ms Greig’s campaigners contend medical & Police reports support her claims, also pointing out Ms Greig received an as yet unexplained huge payout from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority while no one has yet been charged or prosecuted over the abuse.

Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini – lawyers have ties to Justice Secretary MacAskill. Sources close to the case, which saw Mr Green arrested last Friday, his home in Cheshire, England, raided by Scottish Police officers, then later being bailed on Monday of this week at Stonehaven Sheriff Court to attend a full hearing at a later date, say Justice Secretary MacAskill will be quizzed on his relationship with the Glasgow law firm Levy McRae, who now appear to be representing several individuals including a Sheriff & Scotland’s top law officer, Lord Elish Angiolini, caught up in the mess. We revealed in earlier reports, Mr MacAskill has long standing ties to Levy McRae, where the Justice Secretary served his apprenticeship as a solicitor, and worked for some time.

Scots law title "The Firm" reported abuse story, sparked global campaign for Hollie. In another surprise move on the case, lawyers & staff from the well known Scots law publication “The Firm”, whose reports on Hollie Greig’s allegations back in November 2009 sparked the now global campaign to ‘secure justice’ for Ms Greig and other abuse victims, are also rumoured to be in line to be cited to give evidence in Mr Green’s pending trial and be questioned over the content of their now censored reports on the case, which were removed after legal threats from lawyers acting on behalf of the Lord Advocate and led to a string of apologies, which we covered in an earlier article HERE.

Robert Green – arrest was sparked after reports from law title which led to eventual arrest. Legal insiders said today it was likely Mr MacAskill would seek to avoid appearing in court, and may use ‘ministerial powers’ to avoid being cross examined by defence agents acting on behalf of the arrested journalist but there would probably be no escape for staff of law title “The Firm”, who are now being identified by many campaigners in the Hollie Greig case as being the publication which started the recent spate of articles, forum comments and online chatter over the abuse claims, said to involve members of the Scottish legal establishment who will now be forced to clear their names in the gaze of full publicity & open court.

One solicitor said late last night : “The Firm have got themselves in a sticky position. I understand its staff will be called as witnesses to be questioned over their reporting of Ms Greig’s claims, printed as far back as 17 November 2009.”

He continued : “The material published by the Firm in mid November appears to be the initial reports of recent weeks which led to the Lord Advocate’s personal involvement in the case, the spate of legal threats which saw coverage withdrawn from the Firm’s website, and the interdict gained on behalf of the Sheriff, all clearly resulting in Mr Green’s arrest and the current Grampian Police investigation. It is only proper the publication’s staff are called to account for their reporting which has now led to Mr Green’s current situation.”

This morning several additional campaigners associated with the Hollie Greig case, including website owners, pressure groups and online media outlets vowed to follow the same course of defence, if quizzed on their reporting of Ms Greig’s case. A source from a media organisation reporting on the case confirmed they too would be citing staff from “The Firm” to attend if any legal proceedings were instituted by the Lord Advocate.

It also can be revealed today “The Firm” ‘were intimidated’ by the Crown Office over a report they published, claiming a Police investigation took place of a Sheriff in connection with evidence on the Lockerbie case, after correspondence was submitted to Lothian & Borders Police by the SNP’s Christine Grahame. Lord Angiolini went onto praise the Sheriff said to be under investigation, and then disputed the events as reported by “The Firm” (better grab the info in those links while you all can – Ed)

Anne & Hollie Greig to support arrested journalist’s defence. It has also emerged that Hollie Greig herself, and her mother Anne, will support a defence of charges against Mr Green, support which could lead to damaging testimony in open court by Hollie and her mother, which may raise many questions as to why there have been no prosecutions in this long running case. Grampian Police and the Crown Office are now known to have been informed of allegations by Ms Greig of abuse dating back an amazing 10 years and recently the Crown Office issued varying statements as to why no one had been charged. Commentators on the case say the appearance of Ms Greig and her mother in court as witnesses, either in person or by video link from England, will prove an uncomfortable time for those who stand accused of the abuse, and may finally spark action on the Ms Greig’s allegations of serial abuse.

There are now growing calls for Grampian Police to interview the Lord Advocate, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, and staff from ‘The Firm’ over issues connected with the Mr Green’s arrest and the ongoing Grampian Police investigation. (so, a hot time for Scotland’s legal celebs in the spotlight, lets clear calendars ? – Ed)