It was this time seven years ago I had the pleasure of Paul McConville’s company.
We were taking part in a Q&A at a social club in Blantyre.
During halftime, he made a quietly confident prediction to me.
He said that the death of Rangers and the creation of the new club by Charles Green would lead to
“a decade of civil litigation and criminal prosecutions”.
I’m not surprised that events have proven him to be on the money with forensic precision.
The most recent chapter in this legal shitshow has Charles Green seeking £20 million in damages while suing both the Lord Advocate and the Chief Constable over the collapsed fraud case.
Today in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, lawyers acting for the current Lord Advocate, James Wolffe QC, told judge Lord Tyre that they wanted to make a public statement.
Advocate Gerry Moynihan QC said:
“It is admitted that the prosecution of Mr Green had no proper basis.
“It is admitted that there has never been objective probable cause and it is admitted in these circumstances that malice in the sense required to give liability at common law can be inferred.
“The import of all that is that Lord Advocate acknowledges there has been a malicious prosecution in the sense that term is used in our law and accordingly there is liability in damages to Mr Green.”
The last time I checked in with a well-placed source, he told me that some of the “onerous contracts” were still sending money to what I lovingly dubbed “the Sevco Triangle”.
I think it is fair to say that the entire Ibrox adventure has been very good for Charles of Normandy.
Now the Yorkshire chap with the big hands might get a Christmas present from the British taxpayer.
In the brief interlude from the questions at Blantyre, Paul tried to explain “gratuitous alienation” to me.
My enduring recollection was that he had inexhaustible supplies of good-natured patience as I fumbled around to comprehend what he was telling me.
What I did not know was that was the last time I would see the big man.
A few days later he was taken from us at the tragically young age of 47.
The news of his death was greeted with celebratory glee by the Ibrox Herrenvolk.
Not a good look.
Paul wouldn’t have understood that pit of hatred as he didn’t have any hate in him for anyone.
He was a better person than any of the Ibrox klanbase in every possible way.
When I read about these court proceedings today, I could hear Paul’s impish giggle at the ridiculousness of it all.
As a criminal defence lawyer, he had seen all of life played out in the courtroom.
However, even he was taken aback at times by the venal craven nature of the mainstream media who saw their main function as reassuring the Ibrox klanbase that it was all going to be tickety-boo.
His prescient reporting on the early days of Sevco is still freely available here.
If Paul were still around, he would be smashing this out of the park today.
Moreover, he would do it with a cheeky laugh.
Miss you big guy.
Addendum
This just in:
Before LORD JUSTICE UNDERHILL Vice President of the Court of Appeal, Civil Division LORD JUSTICE BAKER and LORD JUSTICE PHILLIPS Wednesday, 11th November, 2020 At half-past 10 TO BE HEARD REMOTELY APPEAL From The Queen’s Bench Division (Commercial) FINAL DECISIONS A4/2020/0329 SDI Retail Services Limited -y- The Rangers Football Club Limited. Appeal of Claimant from the order of Lionel Persey QC, dated 29th January 2020, filed 19th February 2020.
You can find it here.
I’m sure that Paul would be more than happy to assist his buddy in Ireland about what exactly was going on!
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Whatever is happening with the SDI law suit, the Judge intimated that the damages to be awarded would run into several millions, however that seems like a year ago now and no final ruling ?
I must have missed something. I was under the impression that ALL avenues of appeal had been exhausted.
Brilliant (K)nights in Blantyre with the two Pauls and Phil which are registered in my memory banks forever. Had a chat with the man during a break, and was taken with his ability to explain complicated legalise in a simple way. Yes, he is sadly missed.
Of all the bloggers who were writing about the Rangers situation in 2011/12 Paul stood out for his ability to take the reader along and explain the legal complexity in a way that was accessible.
He also wrote a beautiful post on his blog about his love for his wife and that is something else which I remember him for – his clear love for his family.
Very sadly missed.
These ” court cases ” are scandals at a National level…If Robertson and his side-kick…not to mention senior legal officers …escape severe retribution for this…then its proof positive that the game is rigged in this bigoted wee cesspit of a country.
Holyrood needs to step in here…but I won’t hold my breath…
Feckin’ disgrace.
Forgive my shortsightedness and ignorance, but what does this all mean for the current incarnation of 2angers if any? Will it financially impact on them at all? Before the end of the season?
The gratuitous alienation Paul referred to on his brilliant blog was to do with the administrators selling assets cheaply and therefore not acting in the best interests of the creditors. I believe this should have come before the courts almost immediately after the transaction and I find it difficult to fathom why it did not.
I heard about Paul via my daughter who was at same school as his. Loved his sight, his humour, his way of writing with knowledge but also with a bit of fun behind a lot of his work. Even the club is no more.
Big Mike looks like he is on the march.
That was a great night. So much has come true from all the predictions from Paul, yourself and Paul67 from CQN. A ‘generation of domination ahead’
How true.
The epochal events of 2012 are still being played out, that’s for sure.
definitely missed. the ability to be able to explain something complex in a way that anyone can understand is an extremely underrated skill and Paul had that in spades. I am unsurprised to see his predictions still coming true.