Former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan today won £200,000 in his defamation action against the News of the Worldover allegations he cheated on his wife and took part in orgies.
A jury at the Court of Session in Edinburgh took two-and-a-half hours to return its verdict on day 23 of the case.
The Glasgow MSP sued the tabloid after it printed articles, in 2004/05, which said he cheated on his wife, visited a swingers' sex club and participated in orgies.
Mr Sheridan was awarded £200,000 in damages by the jury at the Court of Session.
The former Scottish Socialist Party leader brought the civil action before the Court of Session in Edinburgh after the tabloid printed articles which said he cheated on his wife, visited a swingers club and participated in orgies.
Mr Sheridan helped found the left-wing party and led it until November 2004 when he stood down after the paper printed a story about an unnamed Holyrood politician who was a "spanking swinger".
It was based on claims by the paper's journalist Anvar Khan, with whom Mr Sheridan has admitted having a sexual relationship when he was single in 1992. But he rubbished her testimony that she maintained a sexual relationship with him after he married wife Gail in June 2000.
Before discharging the jury, Lord Turnbull said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I want to acknowledge the care and consideration you have given to this lengthy and difficult case. "The court is grateful for your efforts and your consideration and I now release you with my thanks."
Afterwards Mr Sheridan inquired about his expenses and was told he could launch a formal motion within seven days. There were cheers in the foyer outside court 6 as Mr Sheridan emerged holding his wife Gail by the hand.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Sheridan said: "We have over the last five weeks taken on one of the largest organisations on the planet, with the biggest amount of resources to pay for the most expensive legal team, to throw nothing but muck against me, my wife and my family.
"Well, brothers and sisters, what today's verdict proves is that working class people, when they listen to the arguments, can differentiate the truth from the muck."