'Pregnant' Haney jailed for her 'deplorable behaviour'

Published 18 Aug 2011 08:00

A MEMBER of the notorious Haney family has been jailed for a year for contempt of court - despite still insisting she was pregnant.

A judge also called on the Crown to investigate whether a further offence had been committed in attempting to pervert the course of justice during the proceedings.

Lord Hardie told Catherine Haney, from Alva, that it was quite clear that information she provided on two previous occasions through lawyers was untruthful, but more significant was her "deplorable behaviour" when called to appear as a witness at a High Court murder trial.

Lord Hardie told Haney at the High Court in Edinburgh last Wednesday, "It is clear from your background and your criminal record you are no stranger to the courts and you should be well aware of what is expected of witnesses.

"Despite repeated warnings you insisted on behaving in a dreadful manner."

Haney (40) earlier clashed with defence counsel Donald Findlay QC during the murder trial proceedings when he mentioned the Haney clan, and she responded by saying she was not wearing a "f---ing kilt" she was wearing "f---ing trackie bottoms".

She had then commented following further questions that he was "probably off somewhere singing The Sash".

Defence counsel Niall McCluskey told Lord Hardie that Haney apologised for what she said to Mr Findlay, but had felt insulted by the way he cross-examined her.

Lord Hardie said, "She must be aware that if the court felt the cross-examination was in anyway inappropriate the judge would have intervened. She has got more experience of the court than most people here.

"She prevaricated, she cursed, she swore. She was told to behave and then made a gratuitiously insulting remark to Mr Findlay."

Following her appearance at the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Hardie ruled that Haney was in contempt of court but at a further hearing the judge was told she was pregnant and sought proof of her condition.

She was remanded at Cornton Vale women's prison at Stirling before being freed by appeal judges who were told that she had undertaken a pregnancy test.

Mr McCluskey said the prison was unable to produce a conclusive result as they had concerns over the sample.

Lord Hardie said, "They had concerns about the authenticity of the sample. It may have been provided by someone else."

The defence counsel said Haney still maintained that she was expecting and was due to give birth in December.

But the judge pointed out he was initially told she was four months pregnant at a hearing in April. He said it was perfectly clear that what she told the court before was untrue.

Mr McCluskey argued that there were alternatives to custody available in sentencing Haney, who has more than 30 previous convictions in Scotland and England, including crimes of violence and dishonesty.

He said she had failed to appear in court last month which was near the anniversary of the traumatic death of her son Barry (18) who was murdered last year.

Haney was originally called to give evidence at trial of Donna Murphy (49) who was later jailed for life for murdering Connor Mallon (49) at a flat in Shettleston, in Glasgow, in January last year, after stamping and kicking him and striking him with a glass tumbler.

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This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 17 Aug 11

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