Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband Peter Murrell sold his Portuguese villa after claiming legal aid

Published: 14:18, 7 June 2026 | Updated: 14:18, 7 June 2026 Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband, Peter Murrell, sold his villa in Portugal after receiving legal aid, it has emerged. The former SNP chief executive, 61, disposed of the Algarve property in October last year, around six months after the Scottish Legal Aid Board approved his application for publicly funded legal representation. The villa, which overlooked the popular Nossa Senhora da Rocha beach, was jointly owned by Murrell, his sister and family friends before being sold to a Portuguese investment company. Although Portuguese property sale prices are not publicly disclosed, comparable homes in the exclusive coastal development are currently being marketed for between €400,000 and €600,000 (£346,000 to £518,000). Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP and is due to be sentenced later this month.  He successfully applied for legal aid in April last year while still listed as one of the owners of the Portuguese property. Legal aid is generally reserved for people unable to meet the full cost of legal representation themselves, although some recipients are required to contribute towards their defence costs.  Eligibility is determined by an assessment of income, assets and financial commitments. Nicola Sturgeon wearing a pendant necklace believed to have been purchased by her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, for £425 The former SNP chief executive, 61, disposed of the Algarve property in October last year, around six months after the Scottish Legal Aid Board approved his application for publicly funded legal representation The villa, which overlooked the popular Nossa Senhora da Rocha beach (pictured), was jointly owned by Murrell, his sister and family friends While a primary residence is excluded from the calculation, second homes, investment properties, savings and other valuable assets can be taken into account when determining whether an applicant qualifies for assistance. A number of Murrell's assets were frozen in 2024 following his arrest as part of Operation Branchform, the long-running investigation into the SNP's finances. Among the assets subject to restraint orders were pension funds valued at more than £613,000, a luxury motorhome allegedly purchased with misappropriated funds and a proportion of the equity in the family home he shared with former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. However, his equity in the Portuguese villa was not seized, meaning it could theoretically be included in the legal aid eligibility calculation.  Property records also indicate that Murrell held a Portuguese tax number during the period he owned the holiday home. The villa itself extended to around 1,200 square feet and included two bedrooms, a kitchen, living area, private patio and rooftop terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Located within a gated resort development, residents had access to a swimming pool, tennis courts and an upmarket seafood restaurant.  The complex sits near the cliff-top chapel of Nossa Senhora da Rocha, one of the Algarve's most recognisable landmarks. Murrell arrives in a white prison van at the High Court in Edinburgh for a hearing earlier this week Former leader of the SNP Sturgeon was interviewed by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg last weekend after her ex-husband Peter Murrell admitted stealing more than £400,000 from the party between August 2010 and October 2022 The property is situated in Porches, approximately 30 miles from Faro and a short drive from the popular tourist destination of Albufeira. At a hearing in Edinburgh this week, Murrell's lawyer told the court that his client would be able to repay the money he stole from the SNP through the value of assets that remain frozen. The revelation prompted criticism from political opponents, who questioned how an individual with an overseas holiday property was able to qualify for legal aid. The development comes after Nicola Sturgeon said she had never had cause to question her husband's spending habits during their marriage. Following Murrell's guilty plea, the former First Minister said both she and her husband earned substantial salaries and rarely had time for holidays because of the demands of public life. However, staff at the Portuguese resort recalled seeing the couple regularly over a number of years and described them as friendly, low-key visitors who frequently dined at local restaurants. Workers said Sturgeon was a familiar face at beachside venues near the resort, where she was known to enjoy a gin and tonic while dining on seafood dishes overlooking the coast. One local restaurant owner said the couple blended in with other British holidaymakers and were initially assumed to be ordinary tourists rather than high-profile political figures. According to resort employees, the pair returned to the Algarve for annual breaks lasting around two weeks before their visits eventually stopped in the years leading up to Murrell's arrest. The couple were also regularly seen relaxing by the resort's swimming pool and visiting the nearby beach at Nossa Senhora da Rocha. When recently visited, the Telegraph reported that the villa was undergoing renovation work.  Neighbours described the property's rooftop sea views as among the most impressive in the development, while mature Bougainvillaeas growing around the walls provided additional privacy. Court documents have also shed light on Murrell's apparent fondness for Portuguese products. Records show purchases of premium olive oil, gourmet coffee and vintage port wine using SNP funds. Among the transactions detailed in the prosecution case were orders for Portuguese coffee and olive oil worth almost £90, along with several purchases of an exclusive Taylor's port collection. However, those Portugal-related purchases were ultimately removed from the final list of items covered by Murrell's guilty plea. No comments have so far been submitted. 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