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Authors: Mark Douglas-Home
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in mid-September to see the impact of climate change for myself.’
‘If we don’t prosecute McGill,’ Ryan said, ‘what about the next intruder in your garden? It’ll just encourage others – animal rights activists, anti-nuclear protesters.’
He realised he was wasting his breath. Law and order used to be at the top of the political agenda. Not any more. Protecting raptors, the reintroduction of beavers, carbon emissions, wind farms, biodiversity whatever that was: these were the new priorities in Parliament. God help Scotland.
Gordon sensed Ryan’s disapproval. ‘You must of course do what is right Detective Inspector. It’s not for politicians to direct the police.’
‘No sir,’ Ryan agreed.
Reporting later to Reynolds and Assistant Chief Constable Ian Carmichael, Ryan didn’t allude to the detail of his conversation with the minister. Nor did he mention the custody officer’s report of McGill’s story about the Justice Minister relieving himself into a shrub (a Viburnum Opulus, McGill said) while he’d been hiding in his garden. Instead he presented his ‘caveats’ about rushing to prosecute McGill as though it was his own politically-acute analysis.
‘We can’t get away from the politics of it, much as I know we’d like to. Imagine McGill’s counsel leading supporting evidence from the Environment Minister or his wife.’
Carmichael paced the room in rumination. ‘Damned if we do by the Environment Minister, damned if we don’t by the Justice Minister.’
‘ Possibly damned if we don’t by the Justice Minister.’ Ryan doubted the Justice Minister would want to be anywhere near the witness box once he knew McGill’s lawyer might blab his night-time ablution habits.
‘Why do you say that, David?’ Reynolds asked.
Ryan played safe in case McGill’s story was bravado or embellishment. ‘Every politician wants green credentials nowadays. Can I make a suggestion?’
His senior officers mumbled assent.
‘Send the papers to the Crown Office in the usual way and have a quiet word with someone senior there about the political risks of prosecution, the possibility of MSPs, ministers even, speaking for the defence.’
Assistant Chief Constable Carmichael nodded with approval.
‘McGill will be in custody tonight, pending further inquiries,’ Ryan continued. ‘The Crown Office will book a sheriff for 10pm or so for an interdict hearing in chambers imposing a ban on him from going within 250 metres of any of the addresses he hasn’t yet visited, or the ones he has.’
Carmichael looked at Reynolds. Both men were nodding now.
‘And McGill?’ Carmichael asked
‘He’ll be released tomorrow. Once we’ve checked out the addresses on his list. The last I heard we’d been to 14 and recovered plants.’
Ryan omitted another detail: six of the MPs and MSPs had asked if the plants could be returned to them if they weren’t required as court exhibits.
‘Fucking politicians,’ Ryan said after Jamieson told him.
‘Absolutely, sir,’ she replied, turning away from him quickly, a smile stretching across her face.
Schaden and freude sir
Chapter 6
She’d meant it as a warning, but a warning of what? ‘Be careful, won’t you?’ There was no undercurrent of threat; no ‘or else’ left unsaid. Her manner was kindly, her tone well-meaning, like a friend dispensing good advice. Be careful of what?
Detective Constable Jamieson had been in the front lobby at police headquarters sitting in one of the arm chairs. ‘So they’re letting you go are they?’
Cal had nodded, caught off-guard. Was she waiting for him? She’d seen the query in his expression and she’d said, with a nonchalant sweep of her hand, ‘Meeting a friend for lunch. She’s late.’
They’d smiled; her first, then him. He’d gone towards the door, awkwardly, not wanting to be rude, and she’d glanced at the sergeant manning the reception desk.
‘Be careful, won’t you?’ She’d lowered her voice. It
‘If we don’t prosecute McGill,’ Ryan said, ‘what about the next intruder in your garden? It’ll just encourage others – animal rights activists, anti-nuclear protesters.’
He realised he was wasting his breath. Law and order used to be at the top of the political agenda. Not any more. Protecting raptors, the reintroduction of beavers, carbon emissions, wind farms, biodiversity whatever that was: these were the new priorities in Parliament. God help Scotland.
Gordon sensed Ryan’s disapproval. ‘You must of course do what is right Detective Inspector. It’s not for politicians to direct the police.’
‘No sir,’ Ryan agreed.
Reporting later to Reynolds and Assistant Chief Constable Ian Carmichael, Ryan didn’t allude to the detail of his conversation with the minister. Nor did he mention the custody officer’s report of McGill’s story about the Justice Minister relieving himself into a shrub (a Viburnum Opulus, McGill said) while he’d been hiding in his garden. Instead he presented his ‘caveats’ about rushing to prosecute McGill as though it was his own politically-acute analysis.
‘We can’t get away from the politics of it, much as I know we’d like to. Imagine McGill’s counsel leading supporting evidence from the Environment Minister or his wife.’
Carmichael paced the room in rumination. ‘Damned if we do by the Environment Minister, damned if we don’t by the Justice Minister.’
‘ Possibly damned if we don’t by the Justice Minister.’ Ryan doubted the Justice Minister would want to be anywhere near the witness box once he knew McGill’s lawyer might blab his night-time ablution habits.
‘Why do you say that, David?’ Reynolds asked.
Ryan played safe in case McGill’s story was bravado or embellishment. ‘Every politician wants green credentials nowadays. Can I make a suggestion?’
His senior officers mumbled assent.
‘Send the papers to the Crown Office in the usual way and have a quiet word with someone senior there about the political risks of prosecution, the possibility of MSPs, ministers even, speaking for the defence.’
Assistant Chief Constable Carmichael nodded with approval.
‘McGill will be in custody tonight, pending further inquiries,’ Ryan continued. ‘The Crown Office will book a sheriff for 10pm or so for an interdict hearing in chambers imposing a ban on him from going within 250 metres of any of the addresses he hasn’t yet visited, or the ones he has.’
Carmichael looked at Reynolds. Both men were nodding now.
‘And McGill?’ Carmichael asked
‘He’ll be released tomorrow. Once we’ve checked out the addresses on his list. The last I heard we’d been to 14 and recovered plants.’
Ryan omitted another detail: six of the MPs and MSPs had asked if the plants could be returned to them if they weren’t required as court exhibits.
‘Fucking politicians,’ Ryan said after Jamieson told him.
‘Absolutely, sir,’ she replied, turning away from him quickly, a smile stretching across her face.
Schaden and freude sir
Chapter 6
She’d meant it as a warning, but a warning of what? ‘Be careful, won’t you?’ There was no undercurrent of threat; no ‘or else’ left unsaid. Her manner was kindly, her tone well-meaning, like a friend dispensing good advice. Be careful of what?
Detective Constable Jamieson had been in the front lobby at police headquarters sitting in one of the arm chairs. ‘So they’re letting you go are they?’
Cal had nodded, caught off-guard. Was she waiting for him? She’d seen the query in his expression and she’d said, with a nonchalant sweep of her hand, ‘Meeting a friend for lunch. She’s late.’
They’d smiled; her first, then him. He’d gone towards the door, awkwardly, not wanting to be rude, and she’d glanced at the sergeant manning the reception desk.
‘Be careful, won’t you?’ She’d lowered her voice. It
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