Explosive extracts from senior civil servant’s journal that formed Alex Salmond sex assault probe
‘Today he is not an angry pig…just a disgusting one’: Explosive extracts from senior civil servant’s journal that formed key part of Alex Salmond sex assault probe are revealed in new book about his fall out with Nicola Sturgeon
The diary entries from civil servant reveal the stream of claims against SalmondMr McElhinney wrote he brought in rules to keep women from working after 8pmHe said a woman reported chat about sex during a Eurostar journey in April 2014Another allegedly said ‘fondling and an invitation to lie on [the] bed’ in 2013Mr Salmond denied claims of sexual harassment and was acquitted of 13 counts of sexual assault
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Explosive extracts from a senior civil servant’s diary that formed a key part of the sexual assault probe against Alex Salmond have been revealed for the first time.
Michael McElhinney’s accounts reveal what he says are the stream of claims against the former first minister from his female staff and his anger at no action being taken.
Mr McElhinney, who was in charge of the rota for Mr Salmond’s private office, wrote that he brought in rules to keep women from working after 8pm.
He said one reported a chat about sex on the Eurostar in April 2014 and another told of ‘fondling and an invitation to lie on [the] bed’ at Bute House in October 2013.
Meanwhile Mr McElhinney’s notes said a third claimed Mr Salmond put his arm around her and tried to kiss her, in what he said was just comforting her because she was upset.
Mr Salmond, who has always denied claims of sexual harassment, was acquitted of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults, including one with intent to rape, on March 23, 2020.
He faced 13 charges including one of attempted rape, one of intent to rape, nine charges of sexual assault and two of indecent assault.
The ex-SNP leader, 66, was cleared of all charges by a jury following an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
A separate Scottish government probe into the allegations was found to be unlawful, unfair and ‘tainted by apparent bias’ by the Court of Session.
Michael McElhinney’s accounts reveal the stream of claims against the former first minister from his female staff and his anger at no action being taken
Mr McElhinney’s diaries are revealed in Break-Up: How Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon Went To War by the journalists David Clegg and Kieran Andrews. Ms Sturgeon is pictured
Mr McElhinney’s diary accounts, revealed in a new book reported in the Times, chart what he says are the claims made by the women against Mr Salmond while they worked for him.
He told how the Eurostar incident was not the first claim the woman had made against her boss for his behaviour.
They had been on a trip to Europe and Mr McElhinney emailed her to check everything was well, according to Mr McElhinney’s notes.
She reportedly replied: ‘All fine. He’s a pig, but he’s not an angry pig today. Just a disgusting one.’ He advised her to ‘keep safe’ and avoid any uncomfortable situations.
But he said she replied again just ten minutes later and outlined a sexual conversation Mr Salmond had initiate.
She said: ‘Too late. Didn’t even get through the Eurostar journey without him speaking about having sex with me.’
She added: ‘To be honest, I think I need to minimise my time with him this week after tomorrow.’
He said one reported a chat about sex on the Eurostar in April 2014 and another told of ‘fondling and an invitation to lie on [the] bed’ at Bute House (pictured) in October 2013
Mr McElhinney, who was in charge of the rota for Mr Salmond’s (pictured) private office, wrote that he brought in rules to keep women from working after 8pm
The woman, who went on to make two claims of sexual assault against the first minister, asked for her rota to be changed so she did not have to see him.
Mr McElhinney vowed he would change it for the rest of the week and the woman replied she wanted a ‘break from seeing his fat face and hearing his lewd comments’.
Mr McElhinney had less than a year before left his job in the private office of Labour first minister Jack McConnell for the more senior role with the SNP.
He knew Mr Salmond well, having worked with him previously on energy policy and was keen to work well together on the Scottish independence campaign.
He was offered the job by principal private secretary Joe Griffin, who led Mr Salmond’s private office of civil servants.
But within mere weeks, according to the diary, it turned into a nightmare as several women reportedly came forward to claim the first minister had acted inappropriately towards them.
His diary reports that most were centred around working with Mr Salmond late into the night, which was frequently needed during the political chaos of the time.
The first hitch apparently came when a woman said she was uncomfortable with being asked to watch a film in the study of Bute House on October 30, 2013.
She claimed Mr Salmond turned off the lights and shoved two chairs together so they were close.
Mr Salmond, who has always denied the claims, was acquitted of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults, including one with intent to rape, on March 23, 2020
She made clear there was ‘no inappropriate contact’ and wanted no formal procedure, but said it had unsettled her.
Mr McElhinney reported the alleged incident to Mr Griffin and said he was alarmed by the claim.
Mr Salmond later apologised to the woman for what he referred to as a ‘sleepy cuddle’.
Mr McElhinney recorded nine cases of alleged sexual language, unwanted touching and other inappropriate behaviour, that reportedly emerged over the following months in his diary.
There was increased fear in Bute House about the claims made in the April, the book says.
It refers to the hurried discussions Mr McElhinney and his team had in the days following the claims.
They found Mr Salmond had not behaved acceptably and wanted to address it but without making a formal complaint.
Mr McElhinney wrote of his anger that the civil service did little to provide the women with a safe working environment.
He gave the diary notes to Police Scotland in 2018 and it became a key part of Operation Diem into Mr Salmond’s alleged sexual assaults.
Mr McElhinney’s diaries are revealed in Break-Up: How Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon Went To War by the journalists David Clegg and Kieran Andrews.
