A leading Scottish businessman has described the legal aid bill racked up by Peter Murrell as "madness," given that the former SNP chief executive defrauded taxpayers. Tom Hunter questioned how Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband could afford to reach a deal with prosecutors to repay the £400,000 he embezzled from the SNP while still qualifying for taxpayer-funded legal assistance.
Murrell's Financial Position
Murrell had his legal aid application approved in April last year, but later that year he sold a family-owned holiday home in Portugal. Hunter, a multi-millionaire philanthropist, questioned Murrell's eligibility given his obvious financial wealth. Murrell is understood to have earned a six-figure salary during his years in charge of the party. His restraint order revealed he had assets of more than £700,000, including £613,496.04 across two pension funds. He also shares a marital home with Sturgeon and is expected to repay the embezzled sum once the restrictions on his assets are lifted.
Hunter's Criticism
Speaking on Go Radio, Hunter said: "As everybody now knows, Peter Murrell has pled guilty to fraud. Who has he defrauded? He has defrauded some Scottish taxpayers. He has defrauded SNP supporters, who I assume are Scottish taxpayers, because they've contributed money and he's spent it on hairdryers and campervans. It's unbelievable but he has said he's guilty."
Hunter continued: "If I was an SNP supporter who had contributed their money, and Peter Murrell had defrauded me, I'm now being asked as a Scottish taxpayer to pay for his defence through a thing called Legal Aid. I understand Murrell has now agreed to pay back the £400,000. If he can afford that, surely he can afford his own defence, and not ask the people who he defrauded to pay his defence? It is madness."
Legal Aid Loophole
The Record first revealed last year that Murrell was entitled to have his defence paid for by the taxpayer. Murrell will not be forced to repay the sum because of a loophole in Scottish legislation. The Scottish Legal Aid Board is unable to claw back criminal legal aid, but millions can be recouped from criminals in England and Wales. Legal aid can only be recouped for civil legal aid in Scotland, where the applicant is able to pay.
Scottish Legal Aid Board Statement
A Scottish Legal Aid Board spokesman said: "We cannot comment on the specifics of an individual's grant of legal aid. Any grant of legal aid is made on the condition that we must be advised of any change of financial circumstances during the lifetime of a case. If any material change means the client is no longer eligible to continue to receive legal aid, we will terminate the grant. We have been kept aware of Peter Murrell's circumstances. He continues to meet the tests we have to apply when deciding whether to continue a grant of legal aid."
