Noel Dolan served as the former First Minister’s special adviser before she got to Bute House and has now piled the pressure on John Swinney to launch an inquiry into Peter Murrell’s crime.
The former First Minister speaks to the media outside her home near Glasgow after she was told she wouldn’t be charged(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Nicola Sturgeon’s nightmare fortnight got even worse as one of her close former allies has backed an independent inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal. The nationalist party has refused to even consider a probe into how the former Chief Executive managed to embezzle £400k from the SNP over 12 years.
At court on Tuesday a senior lawyer walked through how Murrell was allowed to put through his own expenses and had unfettered access to the party’s bank account. He faked invoices in order to steal money and used his party charge card to buy luxury goods, putting it down as expenses.
Despite these huge failures of governance – which John Swinney admitted to at Holyrood – the First Minister has rejected calls for a parliamentary inquiry or even one undertaken by the SNP itself. He claimed that the police probe has already answered any questions about the finances, despite this being untrue.
Now Noel Dolan, who was one of Ms Sturgeon’s closest aides in government, has backed an independent probe into the scandal. He claimed that the party should appoint a KC from outside Scotland to chair a probe that should have police and Crown Office involvement.
He served as her senior special adviser when she was Deputy First Minister – and previously condemned Police Scotland as “heavy handed” over its raid on the Murrell/Sturgeon family home. He said back in 2023: “I believe the police behaviour in the use of tents outside and invading the former First Minister’s home has been very heavy-handed. It was completely over the top.”
But now he has changed his mind on the scandal and wants to see it properly investigated. He told the Daily Record: “I do think that as this directly relates to the governance of the SNP the party should set up an independent inquiry chaired by a KC from outwith Scotland.
Noel Dolan at the Scottish Parliament
“The remit of the inquiry should be determined in conjunction with the independent chairperson. The Inquiry must be independent and report back to the party with all due haste. I would hope that the SNP, Police Scotland and the Crown Office would be as open and helpful as possible.”
He also added that he regretted that Murrell’s career had ended “so tragically.” He was remanded in custody after admitting embezzlement and is set to be sentenced on June 23. His 12 year crime spree was uncovered following a four-year-long police investigation sparked by missing SNP funds.
Calls have been made for a parliamentary inquiry into what happened, but a Holyrood one is likely to be blocked by the SNP and Scottish Greens majority. Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee is also considering one, and would go ahead if supported by the members.
Angry John Swinney denies Peter Murrell embezzled public funds
A vote is set to be held at the Scottish Parliament next week with Scottish Labour focusing on this next Wednesday. Lord McConnell, a former Labour first minister, has called for a joint investigation by Holyrood and Westminster.
Despite being the “victims” of this crime, Mr Swinney has refused to launch a probe or back one. He said: “I don’t think there’s a case for that. We’ve actually had a thorough and comprehensive police investigation that’s lasted for many years. The legal processes have taken their course. The legal process has worked.”