Women criticise release of private messages about Alex Salmond inquiry

A group of women who discussed allegations of sexual assault by Alex Salmond have attacked the Crown Office and MSPs after their private messages about the case were released to the Scottish parliament.

The women, understood to be Scottish National party figures, said releasing the texts could have “grave consequences” for future victims of alleged sexual violence if people feared their private correspondence could be disclosed.

The messages were released last Friday to MSPs looking into the Scottish government’s botched investigation into claims Salmond had sexually harassed two officials after Holyrood issued an unprecedented legal order demanding they were disclosed.

In a statement released by Rape Crisis Scotland, the small group of women said they were “deeply disappointed” the committee had asked for the messages, and questioned the conduct of some MSPs.

“We have no doubt that members of the committee knew that vulnerable witnesses were involved when they made the request,” they said.

“We are also deeply disturbed that the crown has felt it appropriate to break the trust we placed in it. Having been let down by the Crown Office, we feel this unnecessary act will have done serious damage to progress made over the last few years in sexual assault cases.

“We urge the crown to consider the grave consequences of their actions, and are actively considering further options.”

The committee’s convener, Linda Fabiani, made it clear there were no plans to publish the messages. She said: “These communications included numerous chains of private messages between different women in what we are clear were safe spaces … We will not publish any of these messages as we are clear that we will not do anything that may cause further unnecessary distress to any women.”

Salmond was tried in March 2020 on 14 charges of sexual assault, including one of attempted rape, but acquitted of every charge after a jury trial at the high court in Edinburgh.

He acknowledged having a “sleepy cuddle” with one complainant, and confirmed he apologised to her soon afterwards. He also said he had a consensual sexual encounter with another woman who accused him of attempted rape, but on a different day months earlier.

Salmond has alleged that SNP officials and people close to Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, were involved in a conspiracy to bolster the police investigation and had pushed complainants into giving evidence – an allegation Sturgeon has repeatedly denied.

A Holyrood source said the nine MSPs on the committee had unanimously agreed on Tuesday morning that the messages were private and would not be used in their investigation. They agreed, however, to press the Crown Office further, to ensure any relevant material is released to the committee.

Sandy Brindley, the chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: “I have read the messages: there’s nothing in them which is relevant to the committee remit or anything which is suggestive of a conspiracy. They show women supporting each other through a very difficult time.”