Post mortem finds no foul play in death of high-profile Scottish silk

The MacKinnon Advocates silk died suddenly on a business trip to Pakistan.

Preliminary tests have found no injuries, but a cause of death cannot be confirmed until the results of further toxicology reports are known.

The lawyer’s body has been cleared to make its final journey back to Scotland after his friend, Glasgow-based human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, transported his body to Islamabad.

The Scottish legal community has paid tribute to “a dazzling light” and the Faculty of Advocates has expressed its shock at McBride’s death.

McBride, who was called to the Scottish bar in 1988 and took silk in 2000, died on Sunday. He was found in a hotel room in Lahore.

McBride acted on a number of high-profile cases in Scotland. He represented Gail Sheridan, wife of former Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan, in the couple’s perjury case, which related to the earlier Sheridan v News Group Newspapers litigation.

He also represented Anwar in a contempt of court hearing in 2008.

This week McBride, a fan of Celtic Football Club, had been due to give evidence in the trial of Neil McKenzie and Trevor Muirhead, who are accused of plotting to murder the QC, Celtic manager Neil Lennon and former MSP and Celtic fan Trish Godman.