Two litigation cases related to Rangers wrongful prosecution scandal reach more than £50m

Two litigation cases related to the Rangers wrongful prosecution scandal have now reached costs of just under £51m.

Compensation payments worth millions have been made after several people involved in the administration and acquisition of the football club were wrongly prosecuted.

David Whitehouse and Paul Clark were arrested in 2014, though the Crown Office later dropped charges and admitted that their prosecutions were malicious.

The pair were appointed as administrators when the company that ran Rangers entered administration in 2012.

Both men were awarded £10.5m in damages over their wrongful prosecutions.

Appearing at the Scottish Parliament’s Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday, Interim Crown Agent John Logue gave an update on the cost of the litigation.

“As of yesterday, the stage at which the litigation had reached, has now reached the point where the costs have increased to just under £51m,” he told MSPs.

Scottish Conservative community safety spokesman Russell Findlay criticised Scottish Government ministers over their handling of the issue.

“As our justice system faces severe SNP cuts, it’s shocking to discover the cost of the Rangers malicious prosecution scandal has now breached £50m,” said Findlay.

“While it’s reassuring to hear that this won’t come from Crown budgets, it is a huge sum that should have been spent on vital public services.

“This toxic episode saw innocent men targeted, it has contaminated Scottish justice and there may be more pay-outs, yet absolutely no-one has been held to account.

“Having been forced to agree to a public inquiry after pressure from the Scottish Conservatives, SNP ministers have shamefully booted the issue into the long grass.”

The Scottish Government have been contacted for a response.