Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh expresses disbelief over Alex Salmond’s sexual assault acquittal

‘NINE women were lying? Come on’

Scottish author Irvine Welsh has reacted with disbelief after the acquittal of Alex Salmond for 13 charges of sexual assault.

The former first minister of Scotland was cleared of sexually assaulting nine women on Monday (23 March).

The High Court jury in Edinburgh returned not guilty verdicts on 12 charges and returned a not proven verdict on a charge of sexual assault with intent to rape.

Salmond had denied all the charges – and when giving evidence claimed some of the allegations were "deliberate fabrications for a political purpose".

An SNP politician, a party worker and several current and former Scottish government civil servants and officials were among the women who made the allegations against Salmond.

Reacting to the news on Twitter, Trainspotting writer Welsh wrote: “For f*** sake. NINE women were lying? Come on.”

He later tweeted: “If Salmond is innocent of this he has to go after everyone who fitted him up with utter ruthlessness.”

Outside court on Monday, Salmond said: "There is certain evidence that I would have liked to have seen led in this trial but for a variety of reasons we were not able to do so."

He added: "Those facts will see the light but it won't be this day."

Salmond said the "nightmare" he had been through was nothing compared to the nightmare Scotland faced due to the UK's coronavirus outbreak.

"People are dying, many more are going to die," he said as he left the trial.

"My strong advice to you is to go home and those who are able take care of your families and God help us all."