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Alex Salmond legal win over redacted documents | Alex Salmond legal win over redacted documents |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Alex Salmond has won a legal bid forcing the Scottish government to hand over documents related to the sexual misconduct case against him. | Alex Salmond has won a legal bid forcing the Scottish government to hand over documents related to the sexual misconduct case against him. |
Lawyers for the former first minister successfully argued that redacted emails and notes connected with the case should be independently reviewed. | |
Mr Salmond is pursuing a judicial review into the process used to investigate complaints against him. | Mr Salmond is pursuing a judicial review into the process used to investigate complaints against him. |
A QC will now consider if the full documents should be released. | A QC will now consider if the full documents should be released. |
Two complaints against Mr Salmond were made in January of this year, weeks after new procedures for dealing with harassment claims were introduced by the Scottish government. | Two complaints against Mr Salmond were made in January of this year, weeks after new procedures for dealing with harassment claims were introduced by the Scottish government. |
They relate to alleged events in 2013 when he was first minister. | They relate to alleged events in 2013 when he was first minister. |
Mr Salmond has denied any wrongdoing, and described allegations of sexual misconduct as "patently ridiculous". | Mr Salmond has denied any wrongdoing, and described allegations of sexual misconduct as "patently ridiculous". |
'Legally sound' | 'Legally sound' |
The former SNP leader claims the subsequent Scottish government investigation was "unfair and unjust". | The former SNP leader claims the subsequent Scottish government investigation was "unfair and unjust". |
He resigned from the SNP in August and launched a crowdfunder appeal to help pay for a judicial review of the process. | He resigned from the SNP in August and launched a crowdfunder appeal to help pay for a judicial review of the process. |
A four-day hearing is due to be held from 15 January. | A four-day hearing is due to be held from 15 January. |
The government has said it is "confident" that its approach is "legally sound", and said it would defend its position "vigorously" in court. | The government has said it is "confident" that its approach is "legally sound", and said it would defend its position "vigorously" in court. |
Speaking at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Friday, Alex Slamond's advocate Ronnie Clancy QC said that he had received 300 documents relating to the Scottish government's investigation. | Speaking at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Friday, Alex Slamond's advocate Ronnie Clancy QC said that he had received 300 documents relating to the Scottish government's investigation. |
Mr Clancy said that as several of the documents were redacted, it was unclear whether or not they contained information that showed the probe against Mr Salmond was unfair. | Mr Clancy said that as several of the documents were redacted, it was unclear whether or not they contained information that showed the probe against Mr Salmond was unfair. |
The advocate also told the court that the Scottish government had not followed its own procedures. | The advocate also told the court that the Scottish government had not followed its own procedures. |
Examine the documents | Examine the documents |
He said civil service guidelines showed staff who investigated harassment investigations should have no prior contact with those making the complaints. | He said civil service guidelines showed staff who investigated harassment investigations should have no prior contact with those making the complaints. |
However, Mr Clancy said the redacted documents did show that Scottish government staff were in contact with the complainers in December 2017 - one month before the start of the investigations against Mr Salmond. | However, Mr Clancy said the redacted documents did show that Scottish government staff were in contact with the complainers in December 2017 - one month before the start of the investigations against Mr Salmond. |
The Scottish government's lawyer Roddy Dunlop QC said that his clients maintained that procedures had been followed correctly. | The Scottish government's lawyer Roddy Dunlop QC said that his clients maintained that procedures had been followed correctly. |
Court judge Lord Pentland said advocate Morag Ross QC would examine the documents and assess whether they should be given to Mr Salmond's legal team. | Court judge Lord Pentland said advocate Morag Ross QC would examine the documents and assess whether they should be given to Mr Salmond's legal team. |
A separate police investigation into the allegations is ongoing and will not be affected by the judicial review, which focuses entirely on the government's processes. | A separate police investigation into the allegations is ongoing and will not be affected by the judicial review, which focuses entirely on the government's processes. |
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