A LEADING lawyer has paid tribute to a "one of a kind" Glasgow man eight years on from his sudden death in Pakistan. 

Paul McBride QC sadly lost his life at the age of 47 when he passed away in his sleep while on a business trip to the city of Lahore in 2012. 

The criminal lawyer, who was based in Edinburgh during his career, rose to fame following a number of high profile cases.

This included the successful defence of Gail Sheridan, the wife of the former MSP Tommy Sheridan, against charges of perjury in a case involving the News of the World. 

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Writing on the eight anniversary of his death yesterday, close friend Aamer Anwar took to Twitter to pay tribute to Mr McBride. 

Mr Anwar, who had been attending a wedding in Pakistan with Mr McBride at the time of his death, wrote: "Eight years ago today Paul died in Lahore, Pakistan. 

"He was ‘one of a kind’, a fearless giant of a lawyer, a kind man but always full of mischief.

Glasgow Times: Mr Anwar, who is also the Rector of Glasgow University, paid tribute to his friend Mr McBride Mr Anwar, who is also the Rector of Glasgow University, paid tribute to his friend Mr McBride

"Not a day goes by where his name is not mentioned. 

"He will always be missed. Rest in peace my friend-Paul George McBride QC." 

Hundreds of mourners from a wide spectrum of Scottish life gathered for Mr McBride's funeral in Glasgow's St Aloysius's Church as they paid their respects at the time. 

Figures from the world of politics, including then Scottish Labour Party leader Johann Lamont and Mr Sheridan, were among the mourners at the requiem mass. 

Close friend and Celtic manager Neil Lennon acted as one of eight pal bearers and playing staff and management attended en mass, including Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew Johan Mjallby and Alan Thompson. Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was also there.

 

After the service the funeral party proceeded to St Conval's cemetery in Barrhead to say their final goodbyes.

Mr McBride and Mr Anwar had been attending a wedding in Lahore but Mr McBride returned to his room early, feeling unwell. He was later found dead in his bed at the Pearl Continental hotel.

A post-mortem examination found there were no suspicious circumstances and concluded that Mr McBride died in his sleep through natural causes.

McBride was an only child from a working-class background. From an early age, his eyes were fixed on a legal career and he left school at 16 to study for a law degree at Strathclyde University. He graduated when he was 19. He was called to the Scottish bar at the age of 22 and when he took silk at 35, he was reputed to be the youngest ever QC in the UK.