From Yesterday's (23 April) 'Scotland on Sunday'

MINISTERS are attempting to gag a star witness at the parliamentary inquiry into the Shirley McKie fingerprint scandal, Scotland on Sunday can reveal. John MacLeod, a fingerprint expert who wrote a secret report for the Scottish Executive on the case, is to be called before MSPs when they begin their inquiry this week. But Executive officials, who have already refused to release his report to the inquiry, have warned MacLeod "will not be in a position" to give verbal evidence either. They are holding him to a confidentiality agreement he signed with ministers prior to delivering his report. Legal experts said last night it was most likely the Executive would go to court to seek an interdict preventing MacLeod giving evidence. If MacLeod was able to go ahead and give evidence, ministers could still sue for breach of confidence. Jesus wept