A former News of the World Scottish editor has been charged by police over allegations that he perverted the course of justice.
Bob Bird is being questioned by officers from Strathclyde Police over evidence he gave at the Tommy Sheridan defamation action in 2006.
The 56-year-old was detained on Wednesday morning by officers from Operation Rubicon, the force's investigation into allegations of perjury and phone hacking made at ex-MSP Sheridan's subsequent perjury trial.
Mr Bird was questioned at Helen Street police station in Glasgow's Govan area over the allegations, while officers also quizzed him over accusations that he has breached data protection legislation.
Bob Bird left the police station at 11.30am on Wednesday. He said: "I just want to say that I’m very sad, very disappointed that things have come to this.
"I have always done my best to do the right thing throughout the 30 to 40 years of my journalistic career and I will be denying the charge against me. On legal advice I can’t say any more at the moment."
Mr Bird declined to detail the nature of the allegations made against him. The police confirmed he had been arrested and charged over the evidence he gave at the trial.
A Strathclyde Police spokewoman said: "Officers from Operation Rubicon of Strathclyde Police arrested and charged a 56-year-old man with attempting to pervert the course of justice at the time of the defamation action of Thomas Sheridan versus News Groups Newspapers.
"A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal in Glasgow. Proceedings are now active and it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further."
Mr Bird gave evidence at Sheridan's original defamation trial against the now defunct News International publication, which the former Scottish Socialist Party leader won and was awarded £200,000 in damages for.
The former journalist, who has most recently been working in PR, also gave testimony at the subsequent perjury trial, which led to Sheridan being found guilty of having lied during the original court action. Sheridan was found guilty and was jailed for three years.
Former News of the World news editor Douglas Wight was arrested by police in Glasgow earlier this month. He was charged with perjury over the evidence he gave during the Sheridan trials.
The 39-year-old was also charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to obtain the personal data of members of the public after being questioned at Govan police station.
Previously, former editor of the Sunday tabloid and ex-PR adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron Andy Coulson was arrested by Strathclyde Police over evidence he gave at Sheridan's perjury trial.
Following his arrest in May, Coulson said he would "vigorously contest" the charges against him.
Sheridan's solicitor Gordon Dangerfield said: "Today's arrest is the latest in a series arising out of the Tommy Sheridan cases.
"It would not be right to comment on individual charges but, as we have always said, there was a serious and wide-ranging criminal conspiracy against Tommy Sheridan in these cases.
"We look forward to the whole truth coming out in court at last."
