Miller interdict
Neil RiddellLerwick councillor and Judane adviser Caroline Miller is seeking a gagging order against fellow SIC member Gary Robinson and local news organisation Shetland News.
Lawyers acting on behalf of Mrs Miller have written to the two parties indicating that they are intending to seek an interim interdict at the Court of Session in Edinburgh to prevent them from making defamatory statements about Mrs Miller and the knitwear firm.
Mrs Miller hung up the phone when contacted by this newspaper for comment yesterday afternoon. She has still not made any public comment about why £21,500 in rent payments from budget salesman Chris Hodge to lease Judane’s factory at Blackhill Industrial Estate were made to her as a sole trader in Northern Isles Knitwear, rather than directly to the company itself, between January and November 2007.
It is understood that one complaint has already been submitted to the Standards Commission about Mrs Miller’s involvement in Judane, while Lerwick resident Kathy Greaves has confirmed that she is preparing a submission to the body. The councillor’s declaration of interests makes no mention of Northern Isles Knitwear.
A fortnight ago public anger was sparked when it emerged that the council has agreed to settle for one third of the £600,000 it was owed by Judane in loan repayments.
