THE dad of former MP Natalie McGarry told a jury that he gave his daughter between £15,000-£20,000.

Brian McGarry, 70, stated that he paid her during her time she volunteered for Women for Independence and Yes Scotland for a three-year period up until she was elected in 2015.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court, he said he was “happy” to make the payments as his daughter committed herself to a cause that he believed in.

Ms McGarry, 40, originally from Inverkeithing, allegedly stole more than £25,000 from two organisations advocating for Scottish independence between April 2013 and August 2015.

The former Glasgow East SNP MP is said to have embezzled £21,000 while treasurer for Women for Independence (WFI) between April 26, 2013, and November 30, 2015.

A second charge states that she took £4,661 between April 9, 2014, and August 10, 2015, when she was treasurer, secretary and convenor of Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP.

Ms McGarry, now of Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, denies the two charges.

Mr McGarry, a retired civil servant, told the court in evidence that he was the guarantor on his daughter’s £5,000 Amigo loan which jurors heard was taken out in 2013.

He stated that he made one repayment of £197 as his daughter had failed to do so.

Mr McGarry stated that he and his wife, Alice, gave Ms McGarry money “regularly” from a Scottish building society bank account made up from their retirement lump sums.

He said: “We knew her financial situation and she was pursuing a cause I spent all my adult life supporting.

“She couldn’t do it all and was working night and day with WFI and Yes Scotland.”

He later said: “Looking back, I paid out between £15,000 to £20,000 per a three-year campaign, myself and my wife.”

Allan MacLeod, defending, asked the witness if he was happy to contribute to Ms McGarry at that time and he replied: “Yes.”

He then went on to say that he paid his daughter a further £3,000-£4,000 as well as contributed £500 to a holiday before she became an MP.

Mr McGarry stated that he was “surprised” about the developments which came out about WFI’s finances and McGarry.

He said: “If it was the figure she misappropriated, we could have and would have covered that, if necessary.

“I didn’t think it would be anywhere near that.”

Ms McGarry’s former office manager and friend, Rachel Mackie, 41, told the jury earlier that she and McGarry had an “up and down” relationship.

Mrs Mackie claimed that she called her when a press release from WFI revealed they were dealing with the police regarding mismanagement of the organisation’s finances.

She said: “I knew straight away it was Natalie. She was inconsolable.”

Mr MacLeod put it to the witness that Ms McGarry was “disorganised and chaotic” when it came to finances in general.

Mrs Mackie replied: “I suppose so.”

Mr MacLeod asked: “At no time did she accept she did anything wrong in terms of committing a crime?”

Mrs Mackie replied: “That’s right, yes.”

The court had also heard from Detective Constable Brian Butler who said the former MP took refuge in a toilet as he read out a search warrant for her home.

He said Ms McGarry was “angry and distressed” when he arrived at the scene on May 19, 2016.

DC Butler further stated that the former MP "tried to slam the door in my face" and did not conduct herself in a way “befitting of her position”.

He said Ms McGarry refused to remain still when he attempted to read the search warrant.

He said: “She then took refuge in the bathroom and I had to read the terms of the warrant through the bathroom door.”

Prosecutor Alistair Mitchell asked: “Was there a point she came out?”

DC Butler responded: “Yes, she tried to slam the door in my face.”

The witness stated that Ms McGarry later gave a “no comment” interview at a police station.

Allan MacLeod, defending, put it to the witness that police had been gathering evidence that she committed the crimes rather than exculpate her.

The officer replied: “My job was to gather information for the inquiry in the best possible way.”

The warrant was executed a week before Ms McGarry’s wedding.

Mr MacLeod said officers spoke to her wedding photographer and where she purchased her wedding ring.

DC Butler said: “There was a reason behind it.”

Mr MacLeod then asked: “When it comes to checking emails that Natalie said will contain evidence of expenses you didn’t bother looking at that?” DC Butler responded: “I would suggest there were direct routes of enquiries about the purchases of wedding rings, photographers and ties.”

The trial continues.