PROSECUTORS have shelved their investigation of former council leader Janet Cadenhead, previously accused of leaking confidential information 16 months ago.

Mrs Cadenhead, pictured, was under scrutiny for allegedly providing the Advertiser with details surrounding a former senior employee of the council in July 2013.

Clackmannanshire Council then called in the police to investigate and Mrs Cadenhead was questioned under caution before the case was passed to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).

Two members of staff at the Advertiser were also questioned by police.

However, after well over a year, prosecutors last week confirmed they will not be pursuing any legal proceedings in relation to the matter.

Nevertheless, the details of the information given to the Advertiser by a confidential source remains subject to a gagging order the council obtained from the courts.

After being officially cleared, Mrs Cadenhead released a statement this week to convey her relief at the decision.

The Clackmannanshire South councillor also took aim at the SNP-lead council administration, accusing them of encouraging her prosecution for political purposes, while questioning the actions of council officials.

She said: “I have been waiting for over a year for the procurator fiscal’s ruling on this and during that time the worry has taken its toll on my health, confidence and, in some instances, my ability to carry out my role as a councillor.

“It has also raised serious concerns about the judgment of senior officers in Clackmannanshire Council and the lengths to which the SNP administration will go to damage the opposition.

“But foremost in my mind is the knowledge that I can go ahead and enjoy Christmas with my family who shared the worry and supported me at all times.” The Advertiser received the details in June last year and, having viewed in the information to be in the public interest, we approached Clackmannanshire Council for comment.

However, within hours of our submission, we received an interim interdict — a court order banning the publication of those details.

The council conducted an internal investigation and later called the police, who then questioned two Advertiser journalists. We chose not to disclose the source of the information, a course of action we are entitled to take.

Police then passed on their information to the procurator fiscal’s office and last week the case was abandoned.

A COPFS spokesperson confirmed: “Information relating to alleged data breaches at Clackmannanshire Council on 5 and 6 June 2013 was submitted by the police to the procurator fiscal.

“No proceedings are contemplated in relation to this matter at this time.” A spokesperson for the council added: “Following an internal investigation, the matter was referred to the police. We were recently informed of the outcome of this investigation.”