Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Privacy-First Edition
Back to NNN
World

Peter Murrell's legal aid withdrawn after embezzlement conviction

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who was jailed in June for embezzling more than £400,000 from the party, has had his legal aid withdrawn.

Murrell, the estranged husband of ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was sentenced to five years after using the funds to buy goods ranging from a luxury motorhome to toiletries.

He was granted legal aid - government-funded assistance typically given to people who cannot afford it - last year.

But The Scotsman, external reported Murrell was informed he would not receive any support with his legal bills on 28 July.

Peter Murrell jailed for more than five years for embezzling SNP funds

A spokesperson for the Scottish Legal Aid Board confirmed that Murrell was "no longer in receipt of legal aid".

They added: "Legal aid and data protection legislation strictly limits what Slab can disclose about individual applications."

During Murrell's sentencing, the court was told that he had more than £600,000 across two pension accounts and would be able to pay back the sum embezzled, totalling £400,310.65.

The Herald reported last month, external that £4,831 of legal aid had been spent on Murrell's case.

That sum was anticipated to increase, with a Scottish Legal Aid Board spokesperson telling the newspaper: "Legal representatives can send us bills during a case, or up to four months after it ends.

"We have not received any bills from the solicitors in this case yet, so we expect to make further payments."

The Scottish Legal Aid Board has not commented on why Murrell's support has been withdrawn.

Its website, external lists various reasons why it could drop legal aid - including a client providing false information, failing to disclose relevant information or falling behind on legal aid contributions.

Image source, COPFSImage caption, The motorhome was parked at the home of Murrell's mother after being picked up in Rosyth

Police Scotland began investigating the SNP's finances in 2021 after questions were asked about what had happened to £667,000 raised for a second independence referendum campaign.

Officers initially looking into those concerns ultimately uncovered Murrell's crimes.

They found the former chief executive had used charge cards, bank transfers and fake invoices to illicitly purchase items including jewellery, cosmetics, stationery, and games consoles.

Most notably, he bought a £124,500 motorhome in 2020.

Three years later, it was seized from his mother's driveway in Dunfermline with four miles on the clock.

Proceeds of crime action against former SNP chief Murrell delayed

Read original at BBC News

The Perspectives

0 verified voices · Three viewpoints · Real discourse

Left
0
Be the first to share a left perspective
Center
0
Be the first to share a center perspective
Right
0
Be the first to share a right perspective

Related Stories