Sturgeon says she was deceived, betrayed and lied to over Murrell embezzlement

Nicola Sturgeon has said she is "coming to terms with being married to someone she did not know" in her first public appearance since estranged husband Peter Murrell admitted embezzling money from the SNP.

The former first minister told an audience at a book festival in Ireland she had been "deceived, betrayed and lied to" by the party's former chief executive.

Murrell pleaded guilty to the embezzlement of £400,310.65 from the SNP between 12 August 2010 and 19 October 2022 at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.

Sturgeon has consistently denied any knowledge of Murrell's crimes and was was not charged after a police investigation.

Murrell used the funds to purchase items including luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome.

He was remanded in custody following the plea and could face a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced on 23 June.

An examination of facts surrounding the case is due to be heard on 2 June.

Sturgeon appeared at the event at the Listowel Arms Hotel in County Kerry in conversation with author Andrew O'Hagan to promote her memoir, Frankly.

She told the audience it had been the "worst week of her life," adding she had dealt with the fallout from Murrell's plea in the public gaze.

She previously described the day she was arrested as part of Operation Branchform - the name of the Police Scotland investigation into SNP finances - as the "worst day of her life".

Sturgeon was questioned by police as part of the probe, but was released without charge. She was told last year that she was no longer under investigation.

Sturgeon said: "This is not a private thing. I've been subject over the past two years to police investigation.

"At the end I was cleared, but people point the finger at me for someone else's crimes."

Among Murrell's purchases were an array of kitchen and homeware, including numerous Le Creuset mugs and dishes and several coffee machines.

Sturgeon said she "had not spent much time" in the kitchen of the home the couple previously shared in Uddingston.

She added that she had not questioned where the goods had come from and assumed they could be afforded as both she and Murrell were high earners.

Sturgeon said she wanted to tell her side of the story, but would wait until the legal process was at an end to do so.

She said: "I'm not ok, but I will be ok."

Her comments were applauded by the audience who gave her a standing ovation when she stopped speaking.

First Minister John Swinney dismissed calls for a Holyrood inquiry into the case during FMQs on Thursday, but said he was "appalled" by Murrell's conduct.

He said he did not believe an inquiry was needed following a five-year "forensic" police investigation.

Operation Branchform began in 2021, investigating allegations of fundraising fraud within the SNP.

During questioning, Sturgeon repeatedly answered "no comment" to detectives.

Her lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said Sturgeon had later provided a "detailed written response" to Police Scotland questions.

Murrell spent more than 20 years as chief executive of the party before resigning in March 2023 due to controversy over details of membership numbers.

He was arrested less than three weeks later in connection with the Operation Branchform investigation into SNP funds.

Sturgeon became first minister and leader of the SNP in November 2014, succeeding Alex Salmond in the wake of the Scottish Independence Referendum.

Campbell Gunn, who acted as an adviser to both, claimed Salmond had warned Sturgeon that Murrell's position as chief executive was "untenable" while she was party leader.

Gunn told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime programme: "Nicola chose to ignore that advice.

"And I have to say, in retrospect, a lot of the grief that has engulfed the party over the past six or seven years could have been avoided had that advice been taken."