37-year-old councillor was interviewed by officers from an elite drug and organised crime squad last year, in a private meeting in his office at the City Chambers.

 37-year-old councillor was interviewed by officers from an elite drug and organised crime squad last year, in a private meeting in his office at the City Chambers.It is understood officers from the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) were concerned that he could be in a position where his influence as the head of the country's biggest local authority might be exploited. The latest dramatic revelations about the case came as Purcell quit the country yesterday, with some sources saying he may be away from the country for a year. He is understood to have flown to Australia, for a period of "rest and recuperation."Purcell unexpectedly quit as council leader last Tuesday and it subsequently emerged that the council had prepared a statement linking his decision to a "chemical dependency".
Last night, there were calls for reassurances from the council that crucial decisions made by Purcell over the last few months had not been affected.On 12 May last year, Purcell held a "private meeting" in his office in City Chambers with SCDEA officers. The unit was set up specifically to probe cases of organised crime and major drug dealing. It is understood that Purcell's own activities were not the focus of the police enquiries. Rather they were concerned that, as the head of the council, he should not leave himself exposed to criminal gangs in the city.
Shortly after the interview, Purcell moved flat, leaving the district of Yoker, where he had lived for most of his life, as part of a symbolic attempt to "start afresh".
The fresh details come after Purcell mysteriously announced his resignation as leader of the council last week.It then emerged he had been admitted to the Castle Craig clinic in the Borders, which specialises in the treatment of drug and drink problems.Scotland on Sunday's sister paper, The Scotsman, then revealed that, under an initial plan laid out by council chiefs, it was to have been announced that Purcell had been suffering from a "chemical dependency".
Scotland on Sunday can reveal that lawyers for Purcell asked Glasgow City Council to make a statement declaring that there had never been a draft statement with the words "chemical dependency". However, the council refused to do so.
A spokesman for the council said last night: "He (Purcell's lawyer] asked us to make a statement confirming these things and we got back to him saying we would not make such a statement."Purcell has now quit politics altogether, bringing to an end a 15-year career at the local authority.
A spokesman for the former leader said last night: "Mr Purcell has departed the politics of Glasgow. He is now resting and recovering. He doesn't wish to comment further at this stage."
Yesterday, union chiefs said that there were now question marks over the decisions that the former leader had taken.
Martin Doran, leader of the council's GMB branch, and a personal friend of Purcell's, said: "There are now deep concerns and anxiety that he was making decisions impacting upon thousands of employees."SNP group leader Billy McAllister added: "I think we should go back and look at the decisions that he made. It is very important that we find out if there are any lessons to be learned."However, council officials insist that Purcell's problems had never impacted on the smooth running of the council.